While today most people are used to full-backs being failed wingers – as Jamie Carragher once said, “nobody grows up wanting to be Gary Neville”. However, Cesar Azpilicueta has single-handedly helped to refute the notion that full-backs make poor defenders. For years, with Osasuna, Marseille and then Chelsea, he’s been one of the most consistently impressive defenders in the European game.
He’s a very strong, stout defender with a clear eye for precision in tackling, positioning and marking. While he’s a very impressive offensive player, too, his main qualities come from being reliable at the back and filling in when needed. Indeed, in his later years at Chelsea he’s often filled in at the right-hand side of a back three. His versatility, consistency and professionalism is only matched by his will to win and determination to always improve. Even when playing in new environments and out of position, he’s often handled himself and has been one of the consistent figures at Chelsea in a decade-long turnover for the Blues.
The Pamplona-born star plays like the famous sport from the city in which he hails from; he’s like a raging bull at times. While he could be better at crossing, he’s a very crisp passer of the ball, and is an excellent, aggressive tackler. Smart in the tackle and rarely caught out of position or using excessive force.
Like many modern defenders, he does much of his defending without touching the ball. A great shepherd of the opposition, he can force wide players and forwards into blind alleys while making sure they are unable to force him out of position.
A very clear reader of the game and a deeply consistent player, Azpilicueta is a reference point for modern full-backs who wish to change the negative perception of their position.