Cesar Azpilicueta calls on Chelsea to bounce back from Arsenal defeat
The Spaniard has called on his team to rally themselves with a second cup match, this time an FA Cup fourth round tie against Newcastle, on the horizon this weekend
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Your support makes all the difference.Cesar Azpilicueta has urged his Chelsea teammates to kickstart another journey to Wembley after missing out on the EFL Cup final at the final hurdle.
An own goal from Antonio Rudiger and a second-half Granit Xhaka strike saw Arsenal secure a 2-1 victory and a clash against Manchester City at Wembley next month.
Azpilicueta was disappointed to go out - especially after going ahead on the night through Eden Hazard - but has called on his team to rally themselves with a second cup match, this time an FA Cup fourth round tie against Newcastle, on the horizon this weekend.
"We were one game from getting to Wembley and having the chance to fight for a trophy in a final so, yeah, it hurts and it is difficult," he said. "We started the game really well and were pressing very well and controlled the game. After the goal, they created the corner and the goal and 1-1 was really quick.
"But after they scored, I think we controlled the game again but we were not able to get the second goal. That was very important for us.
"Today we are disappointed and it hurts a lot. As I said before, we missed the chance to win a trophy. We need to analyse and improve and on Sunday we can do better. We have another chance in the FA Cup to keep going and try to get that trophy.
"After any defeat, the next game you need to bounce back and show the answer from the team. Even in this case, we go from one cup to another and we have to look forward and go for it and get a win, too, for confidence."
One positive from an otherwise disappointing night was a debut for Ross Barkley, the £15m signing coming off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Willian and getting his first minutes of competitive football under his belt since May.
And with crucial games in three different competitions coming up Azpilicueta has backed the England midfielder to make a significant impact.
"Ross came with a great attitude, really trying to work hard to adapt to the team," he added. "We know that he is coming back from a long injury and he has only played for the Under-23s but he came straight on without a warm-up and seems on the right path. I am sure he will be very important for the team.
"He is coming from a seven-month injury and is with a new club and a new team. What I see in training is him working very hard to work with the team and I am sure he will be very important.
"It is how he is as a player and as a person as well. Now in the next six or eight games we have the next rounds of the FA Cup, we have the Champions League and we have the Premier League. We have to keep pushing so the next few weeks we have very important games and we need everybody 120 per cent."
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