Cesar Azpilicueta has hinted at dressing room divisions at Chelsea after bemoaning the club's lack of transfer activity following their shock opening day defeat to Burnley. The Premier League champions lost 3-2 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Gary Cahill sent off early in the first half.
Speaking after the match, the Spanish defender expressed concern over the squad's depth, pointing to the departures of key players and the lack of adequate replacements. 'When you see the players we lost, and the players we signed in, they're not the same,' Azpilicueta said.
The comments come amid a difficult summer for manager Antonio Conte, with star man Eden Hazard injured and last season's top scorer Diego Costa in exile awaiting a move away. New signing Alvaro Morata was only introduced as a substitute against Burnley, while academy graduate Jeremie Boga was handed a debut but quickly withdrawn after Cahill's red card.
Azpilicueta stressed the need for new signings to support the development of young players. 'We have good young players but we must know the reality that being champions is even harder the next season. We need players - also for the development of the young players. They need help from top players, not to rush them in where maybe they are not ready to go at the moment,' he added.
Chelsea face a stern test next Sunday when they travel to Wembley to face rivals Tottenham. The defeat to Burnley has raised questions about the strength of Conte's squad as they look to defend their title.
