Chelsea’s Azpilicueta ‘really motivated’ to make history at Club World Cup

César Azpilicueta has said the chance to make history will drive him on when Chelsea attempt to win the Club World Cup for the first time.

The European champions were beaten finalists on the only other occasion when they qualified and Azpilicueta, who was in the team that lost to Corinthians in 2012, is not short of motivation before Thomas Tuchel’s side look to reach the final on Saturday by beating Al Hilal on Wednesday.

The importance of the occasion is not lost on the 32-year-old defender, who is looking to become the first Chelsea player to win every major trophy at club level, and he knows from bitter experience that it would be a mistake to underestimate the Saudi Arabian champions.

“It’s very difficult to be in this tournament and after 10 years you realise how difficult it is,” Azpilicueta said. “We lost against Corinthians and I had a different feeling. It was my first season at Chelsea and maybe it looks easier than it is. And then with time you realise how difficult it is, first of all just qualifying. So we have to make the most of it, starting with tomorrow’s game. Hopefully that bad experience will help.

“I’m really motivated. In 2012 it hurt a lot. To win it for the first time for the club is huge, we have to make it everything for us. We know it’s going to be difficult. Maybe sometimes in Europe there’s a different perception of what the tournament is but we’re against champions of other continents. We have a huge motivation.”

Azpilicueta, who joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2012, refused to say whether completing his medal collection could convince him to seek a fresh challenge this summer. The Spaniard is out of contract at the end of the season and could join Barcelona but he is not thinking about