When Chelsea signed Spanish full-back Cesar Azpilicueta from Marseille in the summer of 2012, not much was made of the transfer from a Chelsea fan’s viewpoint. Thought to be another player for the Blues to loan out and eventually make a profit on, he arrived at the worst time possible from a newcomer’s perspective as well. The Blues had won the Champions League for the first time in their history just two months before the transfer, and the echoes of the grand success were still resonating around Stamford Bridge when he signed.
The Premise
Almost eight years down the line, and saying that Cesar Azpilicueta is one of the best defenders in Europe wouldn’t be overstating it. The 30-year-old is a veteran of over 350 appearances for Chelsea now and has developed into quite the defensive stalwart. Able to play anywhere across the backline, the Spaniard has displayed his proficiency in different positions and continues to be a rock at the back for the Blues whenever called upon.
His partnership with Diego Costa in their league winning campaign under Antonio Conte is now the stuff of Chelsea legend, and the kind of crosses that the Spaniard used to deliver could be considered a true ode to all the qualities that the next generation needs to possess to survive in the big time.
Enter Reece James. The Englishman is another one of the fine products of the footballing conveyer belt that has come to be known as the Chelsea academy, and the quality that he has shown since breaking into the side has left Chelsea fans all over the world gasping for air. Still only 20, the youngster has showcased time and again that he is the next big thing at Stamford Bridge, and his deliveries from wide is the exact reason why.
The England U21 international can generate an insane amount of whip and bend on his crosses and has showcased that with his balls into Tammy Abraham over the last few weeks. The youngster even put in two back-to-back man of the match performances for Lampard’s side, further impressing the Blues’ faithful.
Why Azpilicueta Could Be The Ideal Mentor For Young Reece James
One of the biggest criticisms that Azpilicueta has faced during his recent years at Chelsea is that his deliveries into the box need to better in quality. While there has been a gradual improvement, it’s not nearly good enough to sustain in the Premier League. James, on the other hand, has already nailed down his crossing and only needs assistance with the more tactical aspects of the game.
This is where the Spaniard’s defensive know-how could come into the picture, and effectively help mould James into one of the most complete full-backs English football has ever seen. The youngster already has the ability to bombard forward and as can be seen from recent fixtures, isn’t afraid to take the odd man on. With able guidance from the Spanish veteran in terms of defensive positioning and movement, the Englishman could be Chelsea’s next Ashley Cole, albeit on the wrong side of the pitch.
