Chelsea have taken the transfer market by storm, with back to back signings of Atletico Madrid players, Diego Costa and Filipe Luis, both of whom were vital to the Madrid club in their La Liga triumph last season. The Blues have put in much focus to bring in only the most technical of players, boosting the depth of the squad line up for the new season ahead. But with manager Jose Mourinho placing Luis as a long term replacement for England’s best ever left back, Ashley Cole, puts Azpilicueta and Bertrand at risk of playing full time football.
As quoted by the Special One, “Azpilicueta is the kind of player I like a lot. I think a team with 11 Azpilicueta’s would probably win the competition (Champions League) because football is not just about pure talent.” This goes to show the amount of faith his coach puts into him and how his performance increases the team rating and overall display.
Going by last season’s statistics, Azpilicueta has appeared in the Blues jersey 44 times in all competitions. This puts his long standing position to replace the departed Cole at risk with the arrival of Filipe Luis. Even by experience level standard’s, there’s not much to separate the two defenders. But from a playing perspective, there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.
Azpi is one defender you do not want to mess with. His control over the left flank is amazing and the Spaniard kicks it up a notch with his incredible pace. He can play on the left side of the pitch, as well as drifting to a center back position when the opposition is on the counter through the middle. What’s interesting is he played as at the right back position in his debut season but had to pitch in for the degrading form of Ashley Cole. This turned around his game completely and in no time, his mastery over at the left back position was completed.
His vision to clear the long balls and to track back and forth with the changing pace of the game is emphatic. I feel that putting his services to power against teams which like to play the counter attack and keep the tempo on a fast momentum would be most ideal. Games against City and Arsenal are examples of why his reassuring existence in the starting XI is required.
Luis, on the other hand can be much more physical and can take a standing position to clear his line of defense. What he lacks in pace, he makes up for his utmost dedication and concentration on the field. He can spot the runs and drag along with the opponent’s winger and keep his vision to an unclear view. This helps against teams who play the slow paced game and build momentum to trudge up the ground and attack. With such composure and technicality to never leave his position or his player unmarked, you could say his buy was a brilliant one foreseen through Mou.
Luis recently on his transfer to the west Londoners – “A change of team gives new hunger and ambition, and I was worried about being too comfortable here. A footballer’s career is very short and I want to finish it in a strong and spectacular way.”
Now seeing as there are two scenarios to play out which each player happens to play out perfectly, Jose can change up his starting XI with much more ease and lowers the fatigue on individual players and extends the positivity all over. Azpi should primarily start at right back, allowing Luis to play at other end while benching last season’s first choice full back Branislav Ivanovic, but being able to play at left back as well, the Spaniard would get more chances than his Serbian counter-part through the course of the season.