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Azpilicueta: Marseille stint prepared me for Chelsea's must-win mentality
Dec 26, 2012 4:30:00 PM
The 23-year-old, who initially struggled for appearances at his new club, feels that his experiences at the Ligue 1 club have aided his adaptation to life at Stamford Bridge
| Bet: | Returns: | Marseille £15.50 | Draw £42.00 | Stade de Reims £65.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Marseille £16.00 | Draw £36.00 | Stade de Reims £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Marseille £15.71 | Draw £37.00 | Stade de Reims £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Marseille £15.70 | Draw £38.00 | Stade de Reims £60.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Marseille £15.00 | Draw £40.00 | Stade de Reims £65.00 |
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Chelsea right-back Cesar Azpilicueta feels that his spell at Marseille set him up well for his move to the Blues in the summer, with both clubs instilling a similar win-at-all-costs attitude.
The Spain Under-21s international arrived at Stamford Bridge for a reported fee of £7 million (€8.5m) in August but had to wait until November 3 before making his first Premier League start for his new side, with Branislav Ivanovic ahead of him in the pecking order.
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| 20/1 | Cesar Azpilicueta is 20/1 with William Hill to score last in Norwich City v Chelsea |
Azpilicueta observed that the English top flight is "more physical" than Ligue 1 but believes that his two-year spell at Stade Velodrome prepared him for the must-win mentality at Chelsea.
"It's more physical here [than in France] and the rhythm is higher," the defender told L'Equipe. "Sometimes, in the second half, it's a little bit mad but my two years at OM have helped me adapt. The pressure is the same.
"At Marseille, we had to win every game. At Chelsea too. The difference is that here we play to win each and every trophy. I came here for that and to grow as a player.
"I didn't play a lot in the first couple of weeks but that's normal," he added. "When you arrive at the European champions, you don't expect to be a first-team regular that quickly. I've worked hard to be able to hope to do that."
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
11:08 PM BST
Right, that's just about it from me, folks. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We hyped this one up. We said it was going to showcase everything that is great about German football. And you know what? It delivered. It was an absolutely absorbing final between the continent's top two sides, a fitting conclusion to what has been a fantastic tournament. Impossible not to feel so, so sorry for Dortmund but they need only to look at what Bayern have done tonight, lifting the trophy just 12 months after throwing it away, to see that it's possible to bounce back from this kind of devastation.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
11:00 PM BST
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has finally faced the press and, judging by his comments, is a tad upset with perhaps something other than the final scoreline.
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
10:56 PM BST
Sir Alex Ferguson also has a new job... Well, kind of. The former Manchester United boss was entrusted with the honour of presenting the man of the match award after the game and relished the task: "It's my first job since I retired and it's a pleasure!"
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
10:51 PM BST
Heynckes, class act that he is, was also quick to empathise with a devastated Dortmund.
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
10:48 PM BST
And finally we get to hear from Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer.
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
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