Cesar Azpiliceuta has been a constant figure in the Chelsea first XI this season but on Saturday, the right-back was rested during the Blues’ 2-0 win vs Crystal Palace.
The club captain was replaced by youngster Reece James and this decision came just days after Cesar Azpilicueta had to play at left-back vs Ajax in order to accommodate James down the right.
And speaking after the match, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard revealed why he had to select Reece James over Azpiliceuta on Saturday.
“Reece was fantastic against one of the best wingers in the league one-v-one,” Lampard had said.
“He is a real threat on the counter-attack and Reece dealt with those situations and also joined in with the attack; you can see how comfortable he is with the ball at his feet and his delivery and passing.
“I trust Reece. He had an injury early season but he has got fit and has been training at a level where he deserved minutes and he did brilliantly.
“It’s part of my job[to make tough decisions]. It would be a tougher call if I was speaking to him when he was having a difficult time and I was bringing a kid in but Azpi is playing really well for us.
While most people are happy with the performance that James put out during the weekend but there have also been fears that Cesar Azpilicueta might not have been too happy at the prospect of being dropped to the bench vs Palace.
Now though, Lampard has come to clear the air claiming that his captain is a true professional who very well understood why Reece James was selected over him.
“He took it as I thought he would, as a perfect professional. It was not a problem,” Lampard as quoted by Football London.
“He wants to play, of course, he does, but he also understands the quality of Reece and the fact that through the long course of the season, not just for Azpi but for every position, there is a lot of change.”
Lampard says it was tough telling Cesar Azpilicueta he wasn't playing. But he says he had to take the opportunity of playing Reece James. Says Azpi's character made that discussion a lot easier.
— Dan Levene (@danlevene) November 9, 2019
Cesar Azpilicueta has been a great servant for Chelsea but the rise of Reece James just goes on to show Lampard’s reliance on youth this season at the club.
Players like Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham has been key figures in the first XI and now it looks like Reece James too has found a niche for himself in the starting line-ups.
