Chelsea: Cesar Azpilicueta presents another challenge for Sarri and the club

Cesar Azpilicueta has taken over the locker room leadership at Chelsea even as he has struggled on the pitch. Chelsea must find a way to get the most out of him and the right-back position.

Cesar Azpilicueta is one of the most beloved players at Chelsea and it’s no secret why. He’s one of the most passionate footballers to play for the Blues in recent memory and he’s a true professional on and off the pitch. Although not the official club captain, the Spaniard has implicitly assumed the role since Gary Cahill’s appearances became less consistent. He’s a borderline club legend.

But Azpilicueta has an elephant in the room this season: he has not been consistently good. He’s had glimpses of brilliance, but he’s largely failed to find his form when making the transition back to right-back. Coming off a performance where he made multiple uncharacteristic defensive errors in one of the most embarrassing nights of his career, many fans have been left to wonder what’s next for Azpilicueta.

This is the last season Azpilicueta should play right-back for Chelsea in a four-man defense. Maurizio Sarri needs to make up for his mistakes at right-back. The 29-year-old is too good to be playing as poorly as he is. He often looks lost and a shell of the player he was last season.

If Sarri somehow survives to see another year in London, Azpilicueta should become the new starting left-back.

With Marcos Alonso and Emerson offering the position up to one another in a seemingly endless cycle of charity, giving Azpilicueta a run at the position wouldn’t do the side any harm. It’s a low-risk, high-reward move. Not only will it allow Azpilicueta to pump some new life in the left side of the defense, it will open up the right side of the defense for a youth player to come in and compete for a role in the starting XI.

Chelsea have two phenomenal right backs out on loan: Ola Aina and Reece James.  James is too good to be held out of the Chelsea XI for another few years. He is on his first loan at Wigan, where he is a smashing success, winning player of the week and month awards as if his life depended on it. He is shaping up to be a solid right-back and becoming everything the club had hoped he would become.

Elsewhere, Ola Aina is having such a good spell at Torino the Italian club are already rumored to be negotiating a permanent move. Although Aina is not starting at right-back for Torino, he’s a natural defender. He has the potential to compete for a starting spot at Chelsea if he does not stay in Italy.

If nothing else, Maurizio Sarri is likely looking at bringing in a right-back from his own list. If that happens, Azpilicueta may be forced to find a new club, much to the dismay of many fans.

In a perfect world, Maurizio Sarri would be sacked and the club would make amends with Antonio Conte, who would restore Azpilicueta to the right center-back position. Unfortunately, this world is anything but perfect.

If Chelsea do find another manager, one can only hope he utilizes Azpilicueta’s abilities. Used correctly, the Spaniard is one of the best defenders on the planet.

One thing is certain, however, Azpilicueta is struggling at right-back under Sarri and something needs to change. Maybe he needs more time, maybe he needs to move positions. Chelsea must figure out what the solution is, even if it means moving on from a legend.