Chelsea fans must show who we really are! Cesar Azpilicueta wants supporters on best behaviour vs Tottenham

Going through: Cesar Azpilicueta applauds the fans after Wednesday night
Action Images via Reuters
Simon Johnson20 December 2018

Chelsea captain Cesar Azplicueta has urged the club’s fans to be on their best behaviour in their League Cup semi-final against Tottenham next month.

Uefa are investigating the club after the away crowd sang an anti-Semitic chant about Spurs during the Europa League game against MOL Vidi in Hungary last week.

The incident came just five days after Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling was abused at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck issued a statement this week warning the fans that such actions will not be tolerated. A heated Carabao Cup contest will put Blues supporters to the test, but Azpilicueta says it is vital they back the players the right way and do not cross the line.

He said: “It’s a massive derby for the fans and we hope that all the behaviour on and off the pitch is what football deserves. There is a lot of rivalry between us, but this is a game where we have to show everyone.

“The players will fight hard for our team and we need the maximum from the fans to help the team.

“This is a massive game for everyone. We have to show how we are as a club. To give everything for the team, to be behind us. Hopefully we can show how we are, how we behave.”

Assistant manager Gianfranco Zola is optimistic the home and away legs will pass without any further controversy.

He said: “I have no doubts that they will respond to it in a proper way.

“We have fantastic supporters and I’m sure they’ll be supporting respectfully and in the Chelsea way.”

The Blues booked their place in the semi-final after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bournemouth. It needed Eden Hazard, who was named on the bench due to a minor ankle injury, to come on and score with just six minutes remaining. The 27-year-old has 10 goals this season, two helping Maurizio Sarri’s side progress in this competition.

In Pictures | Chelsea vs Bournemouth | 19/12/2018

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Tottenham will start the semi-final as favourites having comfortably beaten Chelsea 3-1 in the League last month.

But Azpilicueta said: “Eden is an amazing player and he can make the difference at any moment.”

Defender Andreas Christensen, who Standard Sport revealed yesterday is subject of a loan bid from Barcelona, limped off with a hamstring injury. But the Denmark international said the strain is only a minor one and he does not expect to be ruled out for long.

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