MADRID —
Cesar Azpilicueta said on Monday Spain can draw inspiration
from
Chelsea's triumph in the
Champions League after a slow start has left them
struggling to make the last 16 at Euro 2020.
اضافة اعلان
Azpilicueta lifted Chelsea's second
European Cup as the team changed gear
under new coach Thomas Tuchel, a superb finish to the season culminating in a
surprise victory over Manchester City in the final.
Spain are pinning their hopes on a similar transformation after two
disappointing draws against Sweden and Poland means they need to beat Slovakia
on Wednesday to guarantee qualification from Group E.
They currently sit third, a point behind Slovakia and two behind Sweden.
"It's not how you start, it's how you finish," said Azpilicueta in
a press conference on Monday.
"I have seen it this year in the Champions League. Before January we
weren't very good, and after that we did very well.
"A lot of people gave us up for dead last season, they thought we were
out of the Champions League, out of the race for top four. People write you off
but you never give up."
Despite his excellent form for Chelsea, Azpilicueta has rarely been favored
by Luis Enrique and has started on the bench for both of Spain's opening two
games.
"We are all fighting for places," he said. "For now, we don't
know anything about the next line-up."
Azpilicueta's experience and leadership might be a valuable addition to a
youthful Spanish team, who now find themselves under pressure to make it out of
what looked a straightforward group.
"We are not in the situation we expected," Azpilicueta said.
"We would have liked to be more comfortable but football rarely gives you
what you expect. We are alive and we depend on ourselves.
"We must be humble, self-critical and correct what we are doing wrong
and also assess what we are doing well. It's a combination of the two. It's an
all or nothing game so we have to approach it with the confidence that we will
go through."
Luis Enrique could make changes, with Thiago Alcantara and Mikel Oyarzabal
among those in contention to come in.
Captain Sergio Busquets is also expected to return after rejoining the group
on Friday following his negative COVID-19 test.
Busquets has not played in
either of Spain's first two matches.
"He's an important player, with his experience on and off the pitch,"
Azpilicueta said. "He's an incredible captain and we know the dominance he
can bring in midfield. We're very happy he's back."
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