César Azpilicueta: ‘A bad FA Cup final feeling makes you want to come back’
“I always had this mentality of being open to new ideas,” César Azpilicueta says. “I never felt that I was fully complete because in my career I played different positions and I always tried to get the most out of them. Also that allowed me to look into players from different parts of the pitch and create different relationships in the team. When you have to change you have to pick up new relationships. With different managers, I’ve always been flexible.”
Azpilicueta, who is expected to start against Leicester in the FA Cup final on Saturday, is Chelsea’s great survivor.
After struggling under Frank Lampard, the defender has rediscovered his poise since Thomas Tuchel’s appointment in January. Tuchel is the eighth manager for whom Azpilicueta has played since joining Chelsea in 2012 and he is the latest to find the job is easier with the unassuming Spaniard in the team.
“I always adapt,” Azpilicueta says as the captain ponders hopping from one position to the next in England. Although the 31-year-old arrived as a right-back, he has never complained about being shunted around. The team have always come first. Azpilicueta got on with it when he played at leftback for José Mourinho’s title winners in 2015 and he adjusted when his declining pace began to become an issue a year later, slotting in as right-sided centre-back when Antonio Conte intro
duced Chelsea to a back three.
“The biggest change I’ve had was to play in a back three with Conte because at that time I only played in a back four on the right or the left,” Azpilicueta says. “I never played as a centreback. In England, we know the history of centre-backs. Normally big, strong, different kind of football. It was a challenge. I spent lots of time improving because I knew I had to be ready for it.”
Azpilicueta, who has played a pivotal role in Chelsea joining Manchester City in the Champions League final this month, has always maintained a steady demeanour. The club’s revolving-door policy when it comes to managers does not surprise him. Chelsea were European champions when Azpilicueta joined from Marseille and he quickly saw standards were high.
“When you jump into a dressing room which had just been crowned champions of Europe, you see the big personalities like Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Petr Cech, [Branislav] Ivanovic,” he says. “You learn from them every day. You ask how they win so many trophies. Then you see why they were successful is because in every training session they gave their best. In every game they want to win.
“I’m a winner but I came from Osasuna, where we were fighting against relegation. Away from home, we would win two or three games a season and if we got a draw we were happy. It was a big step moving to Marseille. They demand titles but it was not the same. We were not asked to win the Champions League.”
Azpilicueta, who has won six trophies in England, describes it as “a DNA of winning” at Chelsea. “When we are not having a good season we have a change of managers, but I always felt it’s all about winning. You have to be ready, because we know the different manager can ask something different. We had this situation this season, when we were not at our best.”
Azpilicueta thinks back to watching from the bench when Chelsea last faced Leicester, who all but sealed Lampard’s sacking with a 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium in January. “That was a difficult night,” he says. “The result was bad, but I think the feeling we all had was worse with the way we performed. We are now in the position that we wouldn’t have believed possible that day.”
Chelsea’s fortunes changed when Tuchel arrived. They are fourth in the Premier League with two games left and the reversion to a back three has helped Azpilicueta, who has alternated between centre-back and right wingback.
Azpilicueta is a different kind of captain to Terry. He is quieter but he values his leadership role. He speaks about helping the goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga through difficult times and his relationship with Tuchel is strong.
“He made it very clear what he wanted from the team and what he wanted from me as a part of the team and a captain,” Azpilicueta says. “We always had very honest conversations about what was better for the team. Not footballistically, but in terms of trips or the time of training. He has the ability to communicate and share responsibility. I try to help as much as I can because when a manager comes halfway through the season it is not easy.”
Azpilicueta smiles when he is asked if there is more hugging at training with Tuchel around. “And shouts as well,” he says. “Communication is not only hugs. It’s also when things are not going well, to shout and correct the mistakes. What is important is when you are not doing something perfect, even winning, that’s the moment when you can improve.
“He is very specific, he goes into the detail. When you are at the highest level, every single metre can make a difference. We had a lot of potential and we have to express ourselves. We changed the system but he thought it was the best for the team.”
Few managers are as demanding as Tuchel on the touchline. “He is very expressive,” Azpilicueta says. “His focus is in every action. When a player is out of position, he’s very demanding. You need everybody on the right spot every time. So he’s very active. Antonio was very active as well. Obviously with the empty stadiums it’s easier to hear. In a full stadium I imagine it’s more difficult.”
Azpilicueta is pleased that supporters will be inside Wembley. Yet he has a mixed relationship with the FA Cup. Although he won it in 2018, he has lost two finals against Arsenal. The defeat last year was particularly galling. Chelsea were leading 1-0 until Azpilicueta clumsily gave away a penalty before departing in tears after injuring a hamstring 34 minutes into the game.
“Bad emotions,” Azpilicueta says. “I don’t have a good memory of that. You don’t need extra motivation in the FA Cup final, but when you have a bad feeling from last season you want to come back. It was the same when we lost the final in 2017 and we came back the following year and won. I hope this year we replicate that. We want to be successful.”
Tuchel is very specific, he goes into the detail. At the highest level, every single metre can make a difference.