‘Not his very best’: Tuchel admits he’s been playing £150k-a-week Chelsea player out of position

Add as preferred source on Google

Thomas Tuchel claims he’s not been playing Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta in his best position in recent games.

Azpilicueta, who earns £150,000-a-week, delivered another typical gritty performance last night in the Champions League Round of 16. He even scored the winning goal after a fortunate strike that deflected in off his knee.

The Blues came from behind on Wednesday night to beat Lille 2-1 away from home, sealing a 4-1 aggregate success to reach the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition.

Azpilicueta, 32, impressed with a tireless display at right wing-back.

The Spaniard has played as a wing-back during quite a lot of his career at Stamford Bridge, but is arguably best suited as one of the centre-backs in a back three.

With Reece James unavailable through injury for much of the last few months, Azpilicueta has often been the go-to man in his spot.

Tuchel thinks that Azpilicueta’s best role is not at wing-back. However, he was left waxing lyrical about the Chelsea skipper after yesterday’s contribution at Lille.

“He needs to play all the time wing-back, which is maybe not his very best position, but he’s there and he just lives on a daily basis what it takes to be Chelsea captain. He’s a legend already in the club and this is what we need. I don’t think we need extra, extra, extra at the moment,” Tuchel said.

“We just need a reliable attitude, reliable teamwork, reliable spirit and this is what we have and what we rely on and Azpi is a huge part of that.”

Captain fantastic for Chelsea

Yet again, Azpilicueta left it all out on the pitch for his side. A lung-busting run in the second-half just to press a player by the opposition’s corner flag was a testament to his dedication.

Chelsea do look a more dynamic side and there is a better balance when James starts out wide.

It’s impossible to fault the job of Azpilicueta, though.

If he leaves when his contract expires at the end of the summer, the versatile defender is going to be a gigantic loss.

However, there is reportedly a clause in his current deal to extend it for another year, something that could be done when a new ownership arrives. The player’s hope is that he’s allowed to join Barcelona, though.

Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.