CESAR IS UP FOR A FIGHT
CESAR AZPILICUETA says Chelsea will carry on battling for success.
The Blues skipper praised his side’s fighting spirit as they marched into the Champions League semi-finals.
Chelsea lost Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg with Porto 1-0 but went through 2-1 on aggregate after a dogged display in both games.
The Blues have shown fight off the pitch, too, when things got heated between Antonio Rudiger and Kepa Arrizabalaga in training. But Azpilicueta, 31, says competition for places is so fierce you can expect to see Thomas Tuchel’s men carry on scrapping.
“The team is improving, we have a lot of quality, a lot of numbers in the squad, and everybody is fighting hard to get into the team,” he said.
“The team showed a great spirit, we fought really hard, the attacking players ran a lot. The team defended brilliantly, everybody.
“The attacking players, they did an amazing job. When we recovered the ball, they kept the ball. Porto made a lot of fouls and I’m very happy with the fighting spirit from everybody. They don’t let you play. They are very aggressive, so you have to fight.
“The team showed that spirit and when you want to get through, it doesn’t matter how. Of course, we know that we can play better, but sometimes it’s the game to dig in, to fight together, and the team showed that spirit in the two games.”
Chelsea have only lost twice in 18 games under former Paris Stgermain boss Tuchel (inset).
The German is bidding to become the first coach to take two different teams to the Champions League Final in consecutive seasons and has huge riches up front with Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount facing Porto.
But Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-odoi, Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud will be fighting for their places.