Glen Johnson has urged Chelsea to keep their “fantastic” club captain Cesar Azpilicueta next season.
As it stands, the 32-year-old defender is out of contract this summer.
The £150,000-a-week Spaniard is coming up to 10 years at Stamford Bridge, and he’s been a serial winner during that time. For instance, he’s won two Premier Leagues, two Europa Leagues and one Champions League to go along with a host of domestic cup success.
However, the versatile defender will exit in the summer unless a new deal is arranged swiftly.
Johnson believes it’s imperative that the reigning champions of Europe extend Azpilicueta’s deal. He raised a great point that he’s a perfect role model in the dressing room, especially as he “doesn’t moan” when he’s not in the starting line-up.
“I would [offer him a new contract], yeah,” said Johnson.
“You see the thing is, especially when [Antonio] Rudiger and [Andreas] Christensen’s futures haven’t been sorted yet. You can go and sign another player but you can’t go and sign another player with that experience who’s going to be happy around the camp.”
“He’s not going to play as much as he wants, but most players would kick their toys out of the pram but this guy doesn’t. I think for the dressing room he’d be good to have around the youngsters as well.”
“I think he’s been fantastic,” Johnson added. “I don’t think he was the player they were trying to sign in terms of a flying fullback, but he’s super versatile, he’s a super professional, he doesn’t moan when he’s not playing and plays anywhere along the back four, or back three, and players like that are hard to come by.”
Gianfranco Zola recently agreed that keeping Azpilicueta beyond the summer is a no-brainer.
Azpilicueta a must for Chelsea
Yes, ‘Azpi’ must stay.
His versatility to play as a wing-back, full-back or centre-back makes him invaluable to the Blues squad.
The captain sets the example in everything he does, too. He’s the perfect person for all of the club’s young talented players to look towards as a role model.
Chelsea need players in the group who know everything about the club, which Azpilicueta certainly does.
He would leave behind a colossal hole in the group that would be impossible to fill in the next couple of years.
With so many high-profile individuals in the squad, players will need to have thick skin to keep working hard if they’re left out of the XI for a few consecutive matches.
Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
