Chelsea club captain Cesar Azpilicueta. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea club captain Cesar Azpilicueta has been left out of the Spain squad to face Portugal in their Nations League group decider tonight.
The 33-year-old played the previous game against Switzerland and was on the pitch for 87 minutes last week. Spain lost that game, which put them off the top spot in group A2. However, for the upcoming game, manager Luis Enrique has decided to drop him from the 23-man squad.
Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal is set to replace Azpilicueta in the XI, while Barcelona centre-back Eric Garcia is also left out of the squad.
This news should come as a relief to Chelsea and manager Graham Potter. One of their key players has a game off, days before the resumption of club football.
The Blues are set to play a plethora of games from this weekend onward till the World Cup break kicks in. Hence, they would need as much as players fit and fresh as possible. Azpilicueta is the club captain after all and his experience will be needed in the upcoming key games.
Potter put the 33-year-old in defence in the only game he has taken charge of – against RB Salzburg in the Champions League.
Chelsea’s start to the season has not been convincing. They could do with players such as Azpilicueta to turn up and lead by example on the pitch to start a turnaround.
The other good news is that first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and winger Christian Pulisic are back fit and will play their international games before joining up with the Blues squad.
Chelsea play London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday away at Selhurst Park. Then a monumental game against AC Milan in the Champions League comes up next Wednesday.
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