Why Cesar Azpilicueta Is the Unsung Hero for Chelsea so Far in 2014/15 Season

Chelsea are the only unbeaten side in Premier League after seven games. Their performances so far have been exceptional, and there has been plenty of praise heaped on to new signings Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, as well as Eden Hazard and Oscar.

However, it is a team effort that has put them in such a strong position ahead of the second international break, and there are a few players who do not get the recognition that their superstar team-mates garner.

One of those players is Cesar "Dave" Azpilicueta.

Azpilicueta joined Chelsea in the summer of 2012 for £7.74 million, per transfermarkt. His arrival was overshadowed by the signings of Hazard and Oscar, and it took him a month before he made his debut for the club against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Capital One Cup.

He established himself in the starting XI when Rafa Benitez moved Branislav Ivanovic to centre-half and has gone from strength to strength since then.

Jose Mourinho’s arrival last summer saw him sidelined for a short time, but Dave got his head down and worked hard to prove his worth, eventually ousting Ashley Cole to play at left-back.

The arrival of Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid this summer should have seen Azpilicueta lose his left-back spot. However, he has kept the Brazilian out of the side in the Premier League so far and shows no sign of stopping soon.

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Dave's industrious work rate has seen him reach 100 appearances for Chelsea in just over two seasons, and in his seven league appearances in 2014-15, he has made more tackles than any other Chelsea player. Only the centre-half pairing of John Terry and Gary Cahill can best his clearance tally.

His fellow full-back Ivanovic gets more attention due to his tendency to score goals, but the work that Azpilicueta does in defending the wing is just as important to the team.

Besides, the Spaniard can attack just as well as Ivanovic and has already notched one assist this season against Aston Villa.

Despite being praised by Mourinho in February—the Special One famously said in a press conference that a team of 11 Azpilicuetas would win the Champions League—he still recognises when there is room for improvement.

Speaking after the 6-3 win at Everton this season, Azpilicueta was pragmatic in his response to the scoreline, telling the official Chelsea website:

"

We defenders are not happy when we concede this many goals. I like to see my mistakes, or the team’s mistakes, because after we have the possibility to improve as a team. If you don’t make any mistakes, you cannot improve.

As a defender I would rather win 1-0 than 6-3, but after we win with three goals difference, I think it’s good because the strikers like to score. It’s good for their confidence. At least we got the three points at the end.

"

An interview with the official Chelsea website last month revealed that it is not only on the pitch where Azpilicueta has had an impact this season.

Speaking about Costa, who he knows from the Spanish national side, he said: "I try to help him, and all the new players who come in, and if we help each other it is easier for everyone."

Goals win games, and the performances so far from his team-mates have deserved all of the plaudits they have received. However, Azpilicueta’s dogged determination to keep his head down and do his job deserves credit, too.

Statistics per WhoScored.com

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