Well, this is certainly something different than the usual fare served up. Here’s the César Azpilicueta Choir in their rendition of ‘Just Call Me Dave’.
Azpi has been working with Unscriptd all season, and some of their stuff is wonderfully different than the rest. Two of the more recent examples are him driving the most dangerous car ever made, or showing us how to make his favorite smoothie. Of course, Dave has always been up for random and fun videos, such as when he taught us how to pronounce his name.
Yeah, we’ll just call him Dave.
So, Dave has now been at Stamford Bridge for five years, having established himself as a starter in three different roles including as a center back this season. He’s been one of the first names on the team sheet for most of that time, regardless of position, hardly missing a game or a beat. This season he’s been Chelsea’s iron man, and he’s about to complete the rare feat of playing every single minute of the team’s Premier League campaign.
In an interview from earlier this week, the future captain reflected on his journey so far and the road ahead.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always been able to adapt to new positions and I think that made me better as a player. It’s crazy how football changes. I made my debut more than 10 years ago as a right-winger for Osasuna and to now be playing as a right centre-back shows you how much can change.”
“I’ve taken on every challenge in order to improve myself. Whenever a manager has asked me to change, I’ve always tried to adapt quickly, to learn, and then to become a better footballer. When the manager signed here I knew he liked to play with three at the back and I thought I could play in the back three. I was sure I could make it work, he gave me confidence, we trained hard to learn all the right movements and obviously it was a big change for me. I was more central and you maybe play more with the ball because we build from the back. I’m in possession more and there are no overlaps and not a lot of crosses from the wing but it’s a role I’m enjoying.”
"Now I’ve been here for five years and in that time I have been sharing a dressing room with amazing players. We have won trophies and I’m ready to help in whatever way the manager or club asks me to because I’m a person who wants to win every time.”
Azpilicueta’s determination and competitive drive is commonly cited as the strongest in the squad. Here’s to the next five years!
“There are a few of us in the squad that came around the same time. We know we have to take responsibility, we know what this club is about and we have to make sure we perform at the level to fight for trophies. That’s always been the case at Chelsea.”
-César Azpilicueta; source: Chelsea FC