Chelsea given positive Azpilicueta update after head injury

The Spanish defender fell unconscious after a head injury on Saturday.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has provided an update on the condition of club captain Cesar Azpilicueta following his injury during Saturday’s match against Southampton. Speaking to reporters, Potter confirmed that the defender is “conscious and speaking to his wife” from his hospital bed.

“He’s in hospital so he’s in the best place. We’ll keep monitoring him,” Potter said. “We have to take all the precautions now as it was worrying. It was a horrible incident.”

Azpilicueta was knocked unconscious during Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat against Southampton on Saturday. The 33-year-old had to be stretchered off the pitch after being struck in the face by a stray boot from a Southampton player’s overhead kick. Speaking about the incident, Potter said, “I think he was unconscious at one point, so it was worrying for everyone. You can see how bad it was.”

Potter also addressed the absence of Reece James, who was not involved in the match despite returning from injury recently. “We don’t have any injuries. We are just using this as a chance to rest a few players who have a little bit of fatigue,” Potter explained. “It’s the circumstances we find ourselves in and we just have to be careful.”

Azpilicueta has largely been a fringe player for Chelsea this season, starting only 11 Premier League games. His injury occurred during his first start in over a month. It remains unclear how long Azpilicueta will be out and how his injury will impact the team moving forward.