‘Is this a wind up!?’: John Terry and Cesc Fabregas round on Neil Warnock for claiming ‘fortunate’ Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is not a great defender in staunch defence of their former Blues team-mate
- Cesar Azpilicueta was described as not a ‘great defender’ by Neil Warnock
- The ex-Middlesbrough boss said the Chelsea captain is ‘lucky’ to be at the club
- John Terry and Cesc Fabregas jumped to Azpilicueta’s defence on social media
- Azpilicueta won his ninth Chelsea trophy last weekend at the Club World Cup
John Terry and Cesc Fabregas have hit out at Neil Warnock on social media for claiming that Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta is ‘fortunate’ to be at Stamford Bridge.
On Monday, managerial journeyman Warnock was critical of the Spanish defender, claiming the 32-year-old is not a ‘great defender’ but he has ‘had a bit of luck at the right time.’
And Terry and Fabregas, who are former Chelsea team-mates of Azpilicueta, came out to protect the defender on social media, following Warnock’s controversial comments about the Champions League winner.
John Terry and Cesc Fabregas have hit back at Neil Warnock for his comments on Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta (above)
Warnock claimed Azpilicueta is ‘(not a) great’ defender’ and is ‘fortunate’ to be at Chelsea
Both Terry and Fabregas took to social media this week to rubbish Warnock’s claims
Terry responded to Warnock’s comments by tweeting: ‘Is this a wind up?’ while Fabregas used a series of comical emojis to sum up what he thought about what the 73-year-old said.
Last year’s Champions League victory was Azpilicueta’s third European trophy at the west London club, after lifting the Europa League in 2013 and 2019. The Spanish international defender has also won the Premier League on two occasions.
The Spanish defender, coincidentally, scored a controversial equaliser – which was clearly offside – in a 2-1 victory for Chelsea against Warnock’s Cardiff in April 2019 that went towards the veteran manager being relegated from the Premier League that season.
Asked on talkSPORT if the Spanish international is an underrated defender, Warnock claimed: ‘I think it goes two ways to be honest. I think Azpilicueta has been a very fortunate lad to be a at a club like Chelsea. I don’t think he is a great defender.
Terry (left) and Fabregas (right) are both former Chelsea team-mates of Apzilicueta’s
‘Sometimes in football you need a bit of luck and I think he’s had a bit of luck at the right time and in the right place. That’s what you need in football, you need a bit of luck to be successful.’
After adding Club World Cup to his Chelsea trophy haul over the weekend, Azpilicueta said he was ‘proud’ to be the Chelsea captain and that he was happy his side won the Club World Cup as he felt the manager and players deserved it.
The 32-year-old said: ‘I’m really proud to be the Chelsea captain, leading the club on and off the pitch.
‘This title feels very good because it’s the first time in our history. The club deserves it, the owner deserves it and I’m proud we achieved it.’
The Spanish defender, 32, helped lift the Club World Cup trophy with Chelsea last weekend
Meanwhile, Warnock was sacked as the manager of Middlesbrough in November 2021. The Veteran boss had only just broken the record for the most games managed in English football before being sent his marching orders.
Warnock broke the record when Middlesbrough played against Birmingham and now sits on the new record of 1,603 games.
However, his long-standing relationship with English football was not enough to keep him in the job. Having won just six games in 17 league outings, Warnock was given the sack.