Chelsea have just announced the renewal of their contract with veteran Thiago Silva, and the samba captain will remain in the team until the summer of 2023; in addition to Thiago Silva, Azpilicueta is also a heavy player that Chelsea must try to keep.
Azpilicueta, 32, has been the team's defensive general since he moved over to Chelsea in 2012, paying silently for Chelsea. The Spaniard has no complaints about being transferred to any position in the defensive line and has consistently performed well and steadily. In his nine years at Chelsea, Azpilicueta played in multiple positions such as right-back, left-back, right-wing-back, left-wing-back, right-centre-back, etc., but in each position he was able to deliver at least 80 points and never "leaked".
Under Thomas Tuchel, the 32-year-old Azpilicueta may not be as fast as he used to be, but he is still an indispensable presence in the team. This season, with Rees James and Trevo Charloba also in office, Azpilicueta still has 22 playing time and three assists, which is a good performance.
Yes, the older Azpilicueta may have a little difficulty starting to play in the right wing, but his performance in the right-centre-back position is still quite stable, Azpilicueta's single defense ability, the strong sense of position is still difficult to find a second person in the Premier League; it is quite difficult for an idle attacker to cross his defensive zone. In addition, Azpilicueta can also exchange defensive zones and jobs with Reese James in the game, making it more difficult for opponents to defend.
On the sidelines, the quietly cultivated Azpilicueta is also Chelsea's dressing room leader and captain, and his discipline and attitude are examples for young players. The 32-year-old veteran and Thiago Silva are both "big brothers" that the younger generations rely on, mentioning the growth of a group of young people.
Although it is time for Chelsea to make a change of direction in the defensive line, Azpilicueta still has an unshakable position on and off the field; if the veteran asks for only a 2+1 contract, Azpilicueta will also reach the age of 35 years of retirement; instead of letting him move to Barcelona in the summer and let him play at Stamford Bridge stadium until the glory of retirement, wouldn't it be good?