Cesar Azpilicueta became the first Chelsea player in our history to win every major trophy as we edged past Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final yesterday, and our skipper spoke afterwards about the role he played in the decisive penalty that ensured we left Abu Dhabi with a new piece of silverware in tow.
Since joining the Blues from Marseille in the summer of 2012, Azpi has won the Premier League twice, the Champions League, the Europa League twice, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Super Cup, and now, after two hours of tense football in the UAE, the Club World Cup. No Chelsea player can lay claim to such a varied honours' board.
It looked like the final was heading to penalties but a shot from the Spaniard was blocked by a hand. VAR came into play, not for the first time at the Mohammed Zayed Stadium last night, and a spot-kick was given to us. Azpilicueta immediately gathered the ball and it very much looked like he was going to take the penalty in Jorginho’s absence.
‘It was a tactic because I knew how they are, I knew they were coming for the penalty taker, so I took the ball,’ said Azpilicueta, clearly a step ahead of everyone else in the stadium.
‘Kai knew that he was going to shoot so it was to release the pressure from him. It was a decisive moment and Kai is one of the best penalty takers.
‘I waited and listened to everything their players told me, and I think it worked which is the most important thing.’
How it worked! Havertz coolly converted from 12 yards, and we saw out the closing stages with the minimum of fuss to secure our second trophy of the campaign.
For Azpilicueta, it marked a completion of the set, and redemption for defeat to Corinthians nearly a decade ago.
‘I’m really proud of it,’ the skipper beamed.
‘We have a come long way to be here. It’s a moment to be proud and enjoy it because we know how difficult it is to win this trophy. 2012 hurt a lot and we took more than nine years to be back. We missed out in 2012 and we didn’t want to miss the cup again.
‘This time the medal is gold, and the other one is silver. I made sure I wasn’t coming back with the same colour of medal. It was a difficult game. World champions, it’s not easy. We showed the team we are.
‘When I arrived in 2012 I couldn’t imagine the journey I would go on,’ added Azpi.
‘I’m really proud to be the Chelsea captain leading the club on and off the pitch. This title feels very good because it’s the first time in our history. The club deserves it, the owner deserves it, and I’m proud we achieved it.’