Azpilicueta Reflects on “World’s Best” Arrival
Former Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta believes Blues supporters only caught glimpses of a player who, in his view, was the best in the world when he arrived at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard, who made more than 500 appearances during nearly 12 years at the club, remains one of Chelsea’s most decorated and respected figures.
Azpilicueta won every major trophy available in West London — including the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, and FA Cup — and shared the pitch with legends such as John Terry and Thiago Silva.
“Maybe the Best Left-Back in the World”
Speaking to Flashscore, the 35-year-old reflected on the summer of 2014, when Chelsea signed Filipe Luis from Atlético Madrid.
The Brazilian full-back arrived with a glowing reputation after playing a crucial role in Diego Simeone’s La Liga–winning side.
“Then Filipe Luis joined Chelsea, which was maybe the best left-back at the moment,” Azpilicueta recalled.
“That gave me competition, that gave me a way of helping the team and bringing something different. I had to step up and, yeah, I played a lot and I really enjoyed it. I played alongside John Terry on the left side, which was for me like a masterpiece of learning how to defend.”
Despite his quality, Luis struggled to dislodge Azpilicueta from the starting lineup, making only 26 appearances before returning to Atlético Madrid after a single season.
Filipe Luis Now Making Strides in Management
Since hanging up his boots, Filipe Luis has transitioned into management and is currently head coach of Flamengo in his native Brazil.
Earlier this year, his Flamengo side defeated Chelsea in the Club World Cup, adding to his growing reputation as a tactically astute young manager.
Brazilian football legend Zico has even tipped Luis to manage Chelsea in the future, suggesting he could one day replace Enzo Maresca if the Italian’s tenure ever comes to an end.
Maresca remains secure in his position for now, but as Premier League history has shown, Stamford Bridge is rarely short of managerial drama.
