Chelsea: Spain’s Cesar Azpilicueta experiment could be transferred to club
By Travis Tyler
Chelsea will need to find the best role for Cesar Azpilicueta next season. The Blues may copy Spain’s center back experiment but that will cost others.
Chelsea are sure to use the 4-3-3 formation next season. The top four managerial targets all prefer it in its attacking and possession based form. The 3-4-3 the Blues have used in the last two seasons is not greatly removed from the 4-3-3, but players will need to adjust to the new style all the same. Namely, Cesar Azpilicueta will have to find a role in the coming system.
Cesar Azpilicueta is far too good to drop, but it is hard to see where he would fit best. And an issue that Chelsea will run into is that he is not the best suited for any of the roles. The most natural solution would be to make him a right back, but the rumored managers all prefer more attacking fullbacks. Azpilicueta can do that, but he is not ideal for it. Some have suggested using him in midfield, but that would be at the cost of a player more adept at the role.
Spain may have offered yet another solution. Under a bit of an injury crisis, Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui opted to use Azpilicueta at center back. That is not unusual on its own because Azpilicueta has been playing there for almost two years now. It is unusual because he had never done it in a back four before. Many believed he could not play center back with only one partner.
For the most part, Azpilicueta proved his doubters wrong in Spain’s last match against Switzerland. It was clear that Azpilicueta was not completely comfortable, but he proved capable. In Spain’s high pressing system, Azpilicueta was able to perform the role well despite it being a new role for him.
Related Story: Chelsea: Salomon Rondon the latest punchline to become a transfer rumour
Chelsea could attempt to copy this under new management. High pressing is a part of the style of each of the four linked managers. If playing Azpilicueta at center back can work, Chelsea can then get a more attacking fullback into the right back slot. Since 4-3-3 generally relies on fullbacks to overlap, the formation as a whole can be made stronger by putting Azpilicueta in a role in which his defensive inclinations are a strength.
Unfortunately, moving Azpilicueta centrally simply creates further issues. Who would the Spaniard start over? Azpilicueta is not necessarily better than Antonio Rudiger or Andreas Christensen in the role. He would be a better passer than Gary Cahill, but not any better defensively.
Whoever is manager next season will likely have to put Azpilicueta on the right and squeeze some offense out of him. A good manager finds a way to adjust to the best players in the squad. Azpilicueta is one of those players even though he does not perfectly suit any role in the 4-3-3.
The only issue Azpilicueta would run into on the right side is if Chelsea sign Elseid Hysaj, a player they have been linked to (likely due to the Maurizio Sarri rumors). Hysaj is similar to Azpilicueta but more attacking. Thus, he is better suited to being an overlapping fullback. And if Sarri is the manager that Chelsea finally say yes to, he is sure to start Hysaj if he signs.
Next: Chelsea: Remembering Drinkwater as Seri lines up
Azpilicueta is a fantastic player who is close to being a Chelsea legend. It is up to whoever is manager next to find the best use of him. Spain have offered a new option, but the next manager will have to weigh what it costs and what he gains to play Azpilicueta.