(Reuters) – Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has won nearly every major title with the London club since arriving in 2012, with the FIFA Club World Cup being the only medal missing from his collection.
That’s why the 32-year-old Spaniard is treating Wednesday’s semi-final against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in Abu Dhabi with the utmost respect.
“I’m really motivated,” Azpilicueta, part of the Chelsea squad to lose to Corinthians in the 2012 World Cup final, told reporters on Tuesday. “In 2012 it hurt. Winning the club for the first time is huge, we have to do everything for ourselves.”
“Maybe with time you’ll realize how hard it is to get there. We saw how Corinthians prepared for the game. Sometimes small details make a difference and that day we weren’t at our best. It hurt a lot.”
“We are representing Europe. We know it’s going to be difficult. We have to make the most of this opportunity.”
Chelsea brought a full squad to the tournament, although manager Thomas Tuchel is overseeing work from a distance after testing positive for Covid-19 and his assistant Zsolt Low will take charge of the team.
“We are disappointed that Thomas is not here. We have to be ready for it. He will be very important in the pre-game and during it he will have a direct connection with the people”, said Azpilicueta.
“We have to adapt. We have the technology to communicate. I hope that we fill the gap, that we get closer and that we do the best for him,” he said.
Chelsea are big favorites to beat Al Hilal on Wednesday and reach the final, but Low is not taking anything for granted against a team run by Portuguese manager Leonardo Jardim.
“We have to step into the role (of favourites) after winning the Champions League,” Low said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“We know we are a good team and we play a good game, but Al Hilal is very good, with an experienced coach from some big clubs. We took the role of favourite, but it sure could be a tough game tomorrow.”
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy joined the squad after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, though Low did not reveal whether he or Kepa Arrizabalaga will be in goal against Al Hilal.
“We have two amazing goalkeepers. Mendy did a fantastic performance to win the African Cup and be the best goalkeeper, but Kepa does an amazing job with us here,” he said.
Low said Tuchel’s contribution will be very important.
“If we need him at 6am, we need him at 6am and we’re training in the afternoon so Thomas is already awake,” Low said.
“We always have phone contact also during the game so he can analyze and try to translate for the team.”
Al Hilal thrashed Al Jazira 6-1 to qualify for the Chelsea tie and boast familiar names in their squad, including former Watford striker Odion Ighalo.
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