https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/05/18/
tuchel-reveals-talks-with-azpilicueta-continue-over-captain-s-fu
Tuchel reveals talks with Azpilicueta continue over captain's future
18 May 2022
Thomas Tuchel talks about Cesar Azpilicueta's future and his hopes the
Spaniard will extend his 10-year stay at Stamford Bridge beyond this
summer.
https://i.imgur.com/g6niiON.jpg
Azpilicueta has made 45 appearances for the Blues this season and lifted
both the UEFA Super Cup in Belfast and the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu
Dhabi, while also helping guide us into two domestic finals and a top-four
finish.
Yet the 32-year-old has been linked with a return to his homeland during
the next transfer window and Tuchel confirmed that dialogue continues
between the parties to agree the best way forward, admitting that
Azpilicueta's recently-completed club trophy haul had also played a part
in the defender's thinking.
'We had a lot of these talks because I think it felt like he won
everything after the Club World Cup so I can understand these thoughts,
that maybe a cycle is at its end,' said the Blues boss.
https://i.imgur.com/KW5pu1n.jpg
Azpilicueta completed the set after lifting the Club World Cup back in
February
'Then there's also a change of ownership and he played only under this
owner so maybe it increased his second thoughts about his situation.
'His extension kicked in at the same time and he loves the club, he loves
the challenge and he loves to be here. He is our captain, we are still in
dialogue and at some point we are also selfish because we are not
responsible to solve any other club's problems or to fulfil any other
club's wishes.
https://i.imgur.com/hXrU9jB.jpg
'Given the fact that we lose key defenders already, it's not the ideal
scenario to think about losing Azpi, even though I can understand his
personal point of view. At some point, if you are a legend which he is,
you deserve from me and the club a second look at it, to see if there's
maybe an exception from the rule and we are still in this process.
'I would hope strongly [that he stays] and he knows this but we are still
in the talks to find out the ideal solution.'
Tuchel claimed that the best solution for him was for Azpilicueta to stay
and continue performing at the highest level, praising how pleasing it was
to see such a down-to-earth character enjoy so much success.
However, he also claimed that would only be possible if the defender's
head and heart were fully focused on the task at hand, which is what the
ongoing discussions were aiming to ascertain.
'He is everything Chelsea is about and I'm so happy that he's the captain
because he's humble, hard-working and a nice, polite guy,' continued the
boss. 'I'm happy it sets the example, the tone and the atmosphere on the
very highest level.
'I'm very happy that it's possible in football for a guy like this to win
all the trophies and to really succeed at the top level.
'This is absolutely clear but there are more layers that we have to
consider. He gives all of that if he's fully committed but if now is maybe
the time for him and he cannot get rid of this feeling then we have to
talk about it openly, seriously and respectfully because he deserves that.
https://i.imgur.com/2P5ym34.jpg
'We have to find out if he can give all of what makes him special because
he can only be special if he is committed 100 per cent and has not one
little second voice in his head. That is his foundation so this is what we
have to find out.
'There's no need for us to find it out today or tomorrow. We still have
time because we are also in the privileged position that we have a
contract so let's see and maybe also he needs to find out for himself.'