Cesar Azpilicueta warns Chelsea team-mates NOT to waste Club World Cup opportunity

Cesar Azpilicueta warns his Chelsea team-mates NOT to waste their Club World Cup opportunity as Blues captain reflects on ‘bad experience’ missing out to Corinthians in 2012

  • Cesar Azpilicueta has sent a warning message to his Chelsea team-mates 
  • Thomas Tuchel’s side are attempting to win the Club World Cup for the first time 
  • Azpilicueta was part of the Chelsea team that lost to Corinthians 10 years ago
  • The Spaniard has warned his team-mates not to waste their opportunity again 

In the absence of Thomas Tuchel, at home with Covid, Petr Cech gathered the Chelsea players on Tuesday night here at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium to impress on them the gravity of the Club World Cup.

Cech delivered a pep talk before Tuchel’s assistants Arno Michels and Zsolt Low led the drills.

The former goalkeeper was part of the only Chelsea team to try to become world champions before, in Japan in 2012. It ended in a 1-0 defeat by Corinthians.

Cesar Azpilicueta has warned his Chelsea team-mates not to waste their chance in Abu Dhabi

The Blues have never won the Club World Cup, losing to Corinthians in the final 10 years ago

The Blues have never won the Club World Cup, losing to Corinthians in the final 10 years ago

Cesar Azpilicueta had just joined the club and now appreciates what he didn’t know at 23. 

‘When we are young we think we might have more opportunities,’ said the Chelsea captain. 

‘But with time, you realise how difficult it is, just qualifying for this tournament. We have to make the most of it, win a trophy that no one has won at Chelsea.’

The Spanish defender says he did not consider how difficult it would be to return to this stage

The Spanish defender says he did not consider how difficult it would be to return to this stage

Chelsea play Wednesday’s semi-final against Asian Champions League winners Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia. 

They have familiar faces in Odion Ighalo and Matheus Pereira, both of whom played in the Premier League last season.

The earliest Tuchel can be here is Friday — the eve of the final — but his assistant Low insisted the Chelsea boss had been in contact non-stop. 

Now the Chelsea captain is looking to add the Club World Cup to the Blues' trophy haul

Now the Chelsea captain is looking to add the Club World Cup to the Blues’ trophy haul

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk