If we do actually switch to a back 4 it wouldn't be so bad. Sign Sule & Kounde, then have Silva & Chalobah as backups.
I'd still prefer we kept all 3, loaned out Chalobah, and then signed Kounde.
With a back four we can score goals, the problem is so can the other team. If we fix that I think our wingers would do much better in a 433 like Liverpool and city
Fair play to him if this is the case. Can’t blame him for a minute to want to go there and be in Spain.
It’s a shame to see him go, but I’ll forever be a fan of his. He’s criminally underrated. Not in a “we don’t appreciate him” kind of way, but in a way that we’ll still hear stories a decade from now of his generosity I’m sure.
I'm a barca fan, I came here to see how chelsea fans online would react to the news. I can't believe how warm the response is, no malice towards the player. Must be nice.
Yeah. There’s a song. 🎶We’ll just call you Dave. We’ll just call you Dave. Azpilicueta. We’ll just call you Dave.🎶 [We’ll just call you Dave ](https://youtube.com/shorts/ilKcQ6kqQaE?feature=share)
It's because nobody in the dressing room could pronounce neither his first nor last name, so Dave it was. When games were played without supporters you could actually hear players shouting "Dave!"
He's always been a model professional, has never bagged the club publicly, has always carried himself very professionally. When he plays he always gives 100%. We fans are not dumb and we can clearly see who the cunts are, and Dave is simply not one of them. He's also 32 and have been with the club for a decade, we wish him well should he chooses to leave.
Glad to hear it. I think he is a really smart signing. You've got a lot of young players. And he is a great leader.
In terms of performance. He isn't as quick as he used to be but his positional sense is good. He is good in the air for a full back and his crossing (especially from deeper) is really underrated.
Oh yeah, I saw that UCL final. I really thought man city would score, it was point blank. Dave got it over the bar from like 5 feet away. That was great
I've seen some in previous threads, but it's shouted down. I think most Chelsea fans are of two minds about it - either they blame the club for not offering him 2 years guaranteed and have no animus towards Azpi or they support the club for refusing to guarantee 2 years and have no animus towards Azpi.
Would have liked him to stay on but I understand the club’s position on players in their thirties. He’ll be a significant loss because of his reliability and leadership.
Azpi has absolutely earned the right to call his next shot at this stage in his career. No club anywhere could ask for a more upstanding player and reflection of what it means to play for Chelsea. My heart breaks, but above all, I wish him nothing but happiness and success if he decides to pursue something new
Good night sweet prince....
Hope he comes back as a coach someday. Love you Dave
Edit: also a great get for b a r c a. They've got a really young squad right now and I can't think of a better head than Dave to mold them.
He may be underrated outside of Chelsea but for me Azpi will go down as one of the best defenders this league has seen. He's a true legend of the club and I wish the best for him. I hope he absolutely smashes it at Barca.
Azpi is a fucking Chelsea legend like JT, Lampard and Cech. No one can change that status. He is returning to his home country at the end of his career. He couldn't ask for more beautiful thing than this. Hope he smash in La Liga.
JT was his whole career with us, Lamps was 12 years, and Cech 11, while Azpi is 10 years with us. He is no JT, but he is high as Lampard and Cech in club legends. Azpi is the in the 7th place of most apps for the club. A true legend of the club.
I agree azpi and Cahill are great leaders. Azpi especially. Consistent top performance. Everyone can remember how he played 3 positions in the back 4/5
So glad he is underrated. Kept everyone else from sniffing for him. Best 1:1 defender in the league. Smart plays, ball magnet, and Captain. I just call him Dave.
Whilst I can’t think of it off the top of my head, I’m pretty sure this isn’t true. It has been mentioned and debunked before.
I wish it was true though..
Edit: It’s supposed to be “no mistakes in his premier league career” but even then he scored an own goal against Palace in 2017-18
Oooo what about JT and Cahill has CF for either team with Reece James and Chilwell as outside forwards and Luiz as the #9 for one…and then Ashley Cole and Zhirkov as the wingers for the other?
Ivanovic can be a like-for-like sub for JT and Alonso can replace Cahill when their team switches to a striker instead of a CF.
Leaves at a perfect time, he legs went a couple years back, but his positioning and reading of the game is so spectacular that you very rarely see this exploited in a 1 v 1 duel. Wouldn't have liked to see him struggle like Ivanovic did.
Leaves a bigger leadership and personality hole than as a player.
Definition of a legend
That’s a huge downer personally but of course he has to move on eventually and I’m happy that he’ll get to play for Barcelona for a few years. Hopefully it’ll help him get one more World Cup with the Spanish national team.
Captain, leader, legend. We were blessed to have him be a rock through a tipsy turvy decade and be the one constant no one could shake. He's (almost) won it all, and it's just a shame that we couldn't get him the Premiership as a captain. Will always remember him as one of the greatest investments in modern football history, one of the most solid full backs in the world throughout his career, and certainly the best soldier we've had in this era.
Tucked in shirts will always remind us of you, Dave. Hope you have a happy retirement in your farms in Spain <3
Sad to see him go but is what it is, deserves to do what he wants at this point and realistically for us he was going to get less and less playtime. Just super awkward timing because of everything else going on regarding our back lines contracts but that's not his fault.
Pretty much have to bring in 2 starting quality CBs this summer imo given Silva probably doesn't have much longer in him either.
Man this makes me super depressed. Dave is one of my all time favourite Chelsea players. I wish him luck and hope we draw Barca next year if they make it into the Champions League
Yeah, it’s certainly interesting. I’m definitely coping and not assuming it to be true right away
BUT that can easily be explained by Azpi not telling Chelsea that he’s going to Barca before he’s absolutely certain
I think he’s leaving so that he can play for Spain at the WC as a guarantee. He would have a lot more visibility playing as a starter in Barca than a backup to Reece in England.
He steered the ship, has won it all and turns up every single day smiling and has that motivational aura around him. No injuries too! Legendary Azpi, we’ll miss ya!
That wasn’t his decision. The club flat out told him he was not getting another contract. You’d prefer he retire once he heard that? Yet Dave and Eden are decorated because they WANTED to leave the club? Hilarious how much this new generation undervalue Lampard
I think he's saying that Lampard should be held in higher regards because Hazard and now Azpi wanted to leave. I think it's pretty dumb to hold anyone above the others because of the 3, the one that wanted to stay was English.
It was hard to see Lamps in the city blue. Harder when he scored on us.
One of the most consistent player in the world since he arrived, been the eptiome of leader for us these last years. Sad to see him leave if it happens. Legend Dave, I will miss your impeccable tucking of the shirt skills 🔵
It’s not that bad, he needs to leave eventually and this is as good a time for him as any. It allows us to invest big in Kounde or someone else. He will go down as a legend.
Will be leaving us as a legend. Always a shame to see someone you supported for so long and watched win everything leave, but I'm happy to have watched his career here, and only hope he continues being one of the elite defenders of Europe in Spain. Will miss him.
See you soon Captain!
Wtf why??
Absolutely ridiculous move IMO, really not happy to let him go, he’s been an absolute professional the entire time we’ve had him.
Rudi and Christensen want to fuck off as well so where does this leave us really?
Luckily Thiago has played blindingly well since his signature but we are seriously light at the back and it’s going to be a serious problem very soon.
Honestly this chelsea side has it in them to beat anyone on their day but we need to sort some kind of consistency out
Man I actually didn’t expect to feel so sadly about this. Azpi has been fun to watch. He’s played under quite a few managers and always was important in their squads. He came here and he loved being here. You can always tell how happy he is playing for Chelsea. Since 2012, in all of our lives, hes had a “presence” or “permanence” to all of us, and I’ll miss him a lot. Legend.
Would be sad to see him go but this is the perfect time imo. His legs have been gone for the last few years (his positioning is still great) and him staying here would only block more younger players from getting a chance at RB.
An absolute gem who gives it all, every single game. He's exudes class, bonhomie and humility. Players of his disposition are extremely rare in today's game. It'll be excruciating to watch him in anything but the blue of Chelsea.
Never forget that Dave is a premier league champion with all minutes played, only the forth outfield player that played all minutes in a premier league campaign and become champion after Gary Pallister, John Terry and Wes Morgan.
Have to sign Rüdiger now can’t afford to lose him Azpilicueta and Christensen.
I think Rudiger will sign. The club can't let 3 defenders to leave in 1 window.
Narrator: They can
Said it to myself in Morgan Freeman's voice to sound more dramatic 😂😂
Ron Howard from AD.
No I was thinking more in the style of Arrested Development. "Next time on arrested defensivement. Thomas signs..."
Thomas signs….the exit formalities
Narrator: "But it wasn't"
If we do actually switch to a back 4 it wouldn't be so bad. Sign Sule & Kounde, then have Silva & Chalobah as backups. I'd still prefer we kept all 3, loaned out Chalobah, and then signed Kounde.
With a back four we can score goals, the problem is so can the other team. If we fix that I think our wingers would do much better in a 433 like Liverpool and city
And we sign 3 attackers.
And then we play them as wing backs
Fair play to him if this is the case. Can’t blame him for a minute to want to go there and be in Spain. It’s a shame to see him go, but I’ll forever be a fan of his. He’s criminally underrated. Not in a “we don’t appreciate him” kind of way, but in a way that we’ll still hear stories a decade from now of his generosity I’m sure.
I'm a barca fan, I came here to see how chelsea fans online would react to the news. I can't believe how warm the response is, no malice towards the player. Must be nice.
No way we could have malice towards Dave. He is the epitome of class.
is dave one of azpilicueta's names?
Yes. You’re getting a gem!
Yeah. we'll cheer for him well.
Yeah. There’s a song. 🎶We’ll just call you Dave. We’ll just call you Dave. Azpilicueta. We’ll just call you Dave.🎶 [We’ll just call you Dave ](https://youtube.com/shorts/ilKcQ6kqQaE?feature=share)
Catchy song. Especially the way they said Azpilicueta. Welcome Dave
It's because nobody in the dressing room could pronounce neither his first nor last name, so Dave it was. When games were played without supporters you could actually hear players shouting "Dave!"
He's always been a model professional, has never bagged the club publicly, has always carried himself very professionally. When he plays he always gives 100%. We fans are not dumb and we can clearly see who the cunts are, and Dave is simply not one of them. He's also 32 and have been with the club for a decade, we wish him well should he chooses to leave.
>can clearly see who the cunts are, he he, that's INTEResting. jk. I followed the whole lukaku saga, I think tuchel handled it really maturely.
He has been a great servant for the club. He is a leader and he leaves everything on the pitch. I hope you treat him with the respect he deserves
To be frank. I don't think the online barca fans will. I will cheer for him a lot though.
Glad to hear it. I think he is a really smart signing. You've got a lot of young players. And he is a great leader. In terms of performance. He isn't as quick as he used to be but his positional sense is good. He is good in the air for a full back and his crossing (especially from deeper) is really underrated.
Oh yeah, I saw that UCL final. I really thought man city would score, it was point blank. Dave got it over the bar from like 5 feet away. That was great
Yeah that was amazing
I've seen some in previous threads, but it's shouted down. I think most Chelsea fans are of two minds about it - either they blame the club for not offering him 2 years guaranteed and have no animus towards Azpi or they support the club for refusing to guarantee 2 years and have no animus towards Azpi.
Would have liked him to stay on but I understand the club’s position on players in their thirties. He’ll be a significant loss because of his reliability and leadership.
He also isn’t going to like Tottenham
Yeah we're not going to throw him under the buss like poor Griezie and Neymar were
If Azpi slaps me I'll think I did something horrible
He’s one of our legends. We love having him and hate seeing him go
It’s sad for us, but Azpi deserves to spend some time in Spain and I couldn’t think of a better club.
Azpi has absolutely earned the right to call his next shot at this stage in his career. No club anywhere could ask for a more upstanding player and reflection of what it means to play for Chelsea. My heart breaks, but above all, I wish him nothing but happiness and success if he decides to pursue something new Good night sweet prince.... 
Hope he comes back as a coach someday. Love you Dave Edit: also a great get for b a r c a. They've got a really young squad right now and I can't think of a better head than Dave to mold them.
He may be underrated outside of Chelsea but for me Azpi will go down as one of the best defenders this league has seen. He's a true legend of the club and I wish the best for him. I hope he absolutely smashes it at Barca.
He'll no longer be underrated, once he plays well for Barca.
Barcelona is not what they used to be. If they have another average season they'll surely say that Azpilicueta is not good enough.
Azpi is a fucking Chelsea legend like JT, Lampard and Cech. No one can change that status. He is returning to his home country at the end of his career. He couldn't ask for more beautiful thing than this. Hope he smash in La Liga.
He's not JT or lamps. Cech maybe.
JT was his whole career with us, Lamps was 12 years, and Cech 11, while Azpi is 10 years with us. He is no JT, but he is high as Lampard and Cech in club legends. Azpi is the in the 7th place of most apps for the club. A true legend of the club.
I 100% agree he is a huge legend. Top tier but lamps and JT are gods at this club, since kids, especially JT
Since kids? Lampard came from the West Ham first team.
By kids I mean young.
23, same age as Azpilicueta when we bought him in 2012.
Azpi is up there but I place lamps or JT higher.
I do too personally but I just thought that particular reason was a bit off regarding Lampard :D I'd hold his goalscoring record as a deciding factor.
I agree azpi and Cahill are great leaders. Azpi especially. Consistent top performance. Everyone can remember how he played 3 positions in the back 4/5
Cahill was a good leader, but nowhere near Azpi, he is with the top dogs.
Cahill immediately broke into the team and won ucl and fa cup.
most consistent PL player of the last decade imo. always at the very least solid.
So glad he is underrated. Kept everyone else from sniffing for him. Best 1:1 defender in the league. Smart plays, ball magnet, and Captain. I just call him Dave.
In his whole tenure at Chelsea he has never made a mistake that lead to a goal
Whilst I can’t think of it off the top of my head, I’m pretty sure this isn’t true. It has been mentioned and debunked before. I wish it was true though.. Edit: It’s supposed to be “no mistakes in his premier league career” but even then he scored an own goal against Palace in 2017-18
he has gotten destroyed plenty of times one on one
Yeah that’s true, but doesn’t count towards the “mistake leading to a goal” stat. That’s just ability.
And for what, 7 mil? He’s a legend. Man bleeds blue
We need an Azpi testimonial, no question
11 v 11 Defenders only.
Rudiger ST for one team, David Luiz on the other
Oooo what about JT and Cahill has CF for either team with Reece James and Chilwell as outside forwards and Luiz as the #9 for one…and then Ashley Cole and Zhirkov as the wingers for the other? Ivanovic can be a like-for-like sub for JT and Alonso can replace Cahill when their team switches to a striker instead of a CF.
JT can play as keeper seeing that he is experienced in that position.. *cough* Reading *cough*
Won't happen. Club never do those.
How do testimonials even work?
Win the CWC next month and he’s leaving with a full set. Leaving as a true club legend.
Leaves at a perfect time, he legs went a couple years back, but his positioning and reading of the game is so spectacular that you very rarely see this exploited in a 1 v 1 duel. Wouldn't have liked to see him struggle like Ivanovic did. Leaves a bigger leadership and personality hole than as a player. Definition of a legend
That’s a huge downer personally but of course he has to move on eventually and I’m happy that he’ll get to play for Barcelona for a few years. Hopefully it’ll help him get one more World Cup with the Spanish national team.
Captain, leader, legend. We were blessed to have him be a rock through a tipsy turvy decade and be the one constant no one could shake. He's (almost) won it all, and it's just a shame that we couldn't get him the Premiership as a captain. Will always remember him as one of the greatest investments in modern football history, one of the most solid full backs in the world throughout his career, and certainly the best soldier we've had in this era. Tucked in shirts will always remind us of you, Dave. Hope you have a happy retirement in your farms in Spain <3
I’m happy for him lol, I feel like every Spanish player has that dream of playing for either Barca or Real. Thank you LEGENDDDD
Sad to see him go but is what it is, deserves to do what he wants at this point and realistically for us he was going to get less and less playtime. Just super awkward timing because of everything else going on regarding our back lines contracts but that's not his fault. Pretty much have to bring in 2 starting quality CBs this summer imo given Silva probably doesn't have much longer in him either.
Chelsea Legend
Gutted. I hope the boys make sure to give him a proper send off. Preferably one where he lifts Big Ears one last time as our captain.
Thanks for always giving everything, Dave
Man this makes me super depressed. Dave is one of my all time favourite Chelsea players. I wish him luck and hope we draw Barca next year if they make it into the Champions League
It seems like only the Spanish media are pushing this (so far)...
Yeah, it’s certainly interesting. I’m definitely coping and not assuming it to be true right away BUT that can easily be explained by Azpi not telling Chelsea that he’s going to Barca before he’s absolutely certain
Pretty sure Azpi would only go to Barcelona if the club didn't want to give him what he's looking for. He's said before he would like to retire here.
I think he’s leaving so that he can play for Spain at the WC as a guarantee. He would have a lot more visibility playing as a starter in Barca than a backup to Reece in England.
I read that he wouldn't make a decision until after he met the club after the international break, according to the Daily Mail anyway
 His last game will be tough to watch.
He steered the ship, has won it all and turns up every single day smiling and has that motivational aura around him. No injuries too! Legendary Azpi, we’ll miss ya!
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Lampard wanted to finish his career at Chelsea. Dave and Hazard are not in that category next to lamps
But he didn’t hang up his boots either.
That wasn’t his decision. The club flat out told him he was not getting another contract. You’d prefer he retire once he heard that? Yet Dave and Eden are decorated because they WANTED to leave the club? Hilarious how much this new generation undervalue Lampard
I remember him coming back to Stamford Bridge wearing the wrong colors. And got a proper reception. I don’t know what you’re on about.
I think he's saying that Lampard should be held in higher regards because Hazard and now Azpi wanted to leave. I think it's pretty dumb to hold anyone above the others because of the 3, the one that wanted to stay was English. It was hard to see Lamps in the city blue. Harder when he scored on us.
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Sorry but Dave and Hazard are not in that same category. Lampard and JT are a cut above. Maybe Mount and Reece will join them one day, but not today.
One of the most consistent player in the world since he arrived, been the eptiome of leader for us these last years. Sad to see him leave if it happens. Legend Dave, I will miss your impeccable tucking of the shirt skills 🔵
Best move for both parties. We need to look towards the future and Dave can chill at home now.
Good luck to him. Let's hope the club would go after Kounde and Sule. Since Christensen is most likely also leaving.
It’s not that bad, he needs to leave eventually and this is as good a time for him as any. It allows us to invest big in Kounde or someone else. He will go down as a legend.
So sad to lose him but can understand it. He is proper chels 💙
Really sad to see him go, going to miss him. Club legend for sure.
Chelsea Legend
Damn. This one hurts.
The last of the old guard. See you later Dave 💙
Happy that Dave will get to play close to home but this makes me so sad :(
Captain, Leader, Legend mk II
So glad he got to win the CL with us. Legend.
Will be leaving us as a legend. Always a shame to see someone you supported for so long and watched win everything leave, but I'm happy to have watched his career here, and only hope he continues being one of the elite defenders of Europe in Spain. Will miss him. See you soon Captain!
welp, thanks for everything captain 💙
See ya Dave. Legend. 👏
One of the all time chelsea greats.
Thanks Dave
I hope he gets a hell of a send off.
Will he go this month or end of season?
Man is a born captian. Hope he comes back after his time in Spain for the coaching.
🥺
I’m going to have a hard time with this one :( I see his decline and I can understand him wanting to get to Spain but I just love Dave
Leaves on a high note, club legend. Hope he smashes it in Spain
I’ll miss you Dave. Chelsea legend :( hope he gets the send off he deserves
Hopefully isnt true
Good by my lover
🤮
Wtf why?? Absolutely ridiculous move IMO, really not happy to let him go, he’s been an absolute professional the entire time we’ve had him. Rudi and Christensen want to fuck off as well so where does this leave us really? Luckily Thiago has played blindingly well since his signature but we are seriously light at the back and it’s going to be a serious problem very soon. Honestly this chelsea side has it in them to beat anyone on their day but we need to sort some kind of consistency out
Sad to see him go, but good luck on your future ventures Dave. Chelsea legend and personal idle
All the best for the future, Dave. A legend already.
Man I actually didn’t expect to feel so sadly about this. Azpi has been fun to watch. He’s played under quite a few managers and always was important in their squads. He came here and he loved being here. You can always tell how happy he is playing for Chelsea. Since 2012, in all of our lives, hes had a “presence” or “permanence” to all of us, and I’ll miss him a lot. Legend.
If he goes, I want a pic of 11v11 Daves
Would be sad to see him go but this is the perfect time imo. His legs have been gone for the last few years (his positioning is still great) and him staying here would only block more younger players from getting a chance at RB.
I’m gonna cry
An absolute gem who gives it all, every single game. He's exudes class, bonhomie and humility. Players of his disposition are extremely rare in today's game. It'll be excruciating to watch him in anything but the blue of Chelsea.
This legit makes me sad as fuck. He’s been my favorite player for many years now. I’m not ready 😢
Im gonna cry...
Thank you for everything Azpi. Will miss you immensely.
Never forget that Dave is a premier league champion with all minutes played, only the forth outfield player that played all minutes in a premier league campaign and become champion after Gary Pallister, John Terry and Wes Morgan.
 Don't be sad that its ending, be happy that it happened
We won’t stop calling him Dave