Cesar Azpilicueta has played every single minute of Premier League action under Antonio Conte. That fact proves how vital he is to Chelsea’s cause.
Chelsea fans hold Cesar Azpilcueta in high esteem. The Spaniard is the most dependable player in the Blues squad and has been ever since he joined. However, he is rarely elevated into discussions about Chelsea greats. The fact that he has played every minute of Antonio Conte’s 50 Premier League games proves he should be.
Azpilicueta arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2012, but it wasn’t until Jose Mourinho returned a year later that he truly started to show his quality. Mourinho used him out of his natural position at left-back, a position he subsequently made his own. He became a synonym for consistency, putting in spectacularly solid performances each and every week.
When Antonio Conte arrived he was moved into a centre-back role, again a technically unnatural position. Nevertheless, Azpilicueta adapted and continued to deliver fantastic performances. He even switched out to wingback when injuries or tactics dictated.
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He was the only Chelsea player to play every Premier League minute last season. He has been on the pitch for every minute of this campaign as well. With at least 40 competitive appearances in each season since arriving, Azpilicueta has proven to three different managers just how important he is.
All these numbers point to the Spaniard being a Chelsea great. But why is he rarely mentioned in that category? The problem, in some twisted way, is probably his consistency. Fans have come to expect high standards from him on a regular basis. He has always met those expectations. Hence, he doesn’t actually catch the eye.
It’s about time Azpilicueta starts to be regarded as one of the club’s finest defenders. As great as the likes of John Terry and Ashley Cole were, Azpilicueta deserves to mentioned in the same breadth.
It’s hard to think of any Blues player who has been so impressively consistent over such a long period of time. The fitness required to stay at the top of your game for a full season is immense. To stay clear of injuries while still getting stuck into tackles and headers is almost wizardry.
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Azpilicueta has shown over the last five years that he is one of Chelsea’s most reliable players. He is also one of the Premier League’s best defenders. Blues fans (and the wider footballing world) should now give the Spaniard the credit he deserves. Not just that he is consistent, but that he is truly a Chelsea great.