Despite going 1-0 behind to Lille on Wednesday evening, Chelsea managed to fight their way back to win the match 2-1 and go through to the next stage of the Champions League.
It was a big victory for Thomas Tuchel’s side as the Stade Pierre Mauroy had a fierce atmosphere even before kick-off, and the home fans only got more behind their side when the first goal was scored.
L’Equipe, who are always very harsh with their marks, have rated the players, and César Azpilicueta was given 7/10, with no player scoring higher.
The Chelsea captain played for Marseille before his move to Stamford Bridge in 2012, and the French newspaper have given the defender his own post-match article, sending praise the way of the Spaniard.
Azpilicueta scored the winner for the Blues, and it’s stated this goal was a good example of his ‘crazy mental strength’.
He managed to show a ‘remarkable state of mind’ despite all the uncertainty around Chelsea, and specifically around his own future with the Premier League club.
L’Equipe explain: ‘He does not necessarily have above-average physical and technical qualities, but has managed, due to hard work, and thanks to an irreproachable state of mind, to become part of one of the best clubs in the world, to the point of obtaining recognition which even seems to surprise him.’Regarding his own future, the article says Chelsea have ‘no legal or financial means to offer him an extension’, and there won’t be a lack of interest in the summer.
