Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta acted as if he was going to take the penalty, absorbed all of the pressure from the Palmeiras players and then handed the ball to Kai Havertz to score the winning goal for the Blues to lift Club World Cup on Saturday.
When Chelsea were awarded their late penalty, the defender took control of the situation. He picked up the ball, he made eye-contact with Kai Havertz and he drew every ounce of pressure from the Palmeiras defenders.
“It was a tactic because I knew how they are, I knew they were coming for the penalty taker, so I took the ball,” said Azpilicueta.
“Kai knew that he was going to shoot so it was to release the pressure from him. It was a decisive moment and Kai is one of the best penalty takers.
“I waited and listened to everything their players told me, and I think it worked which is the most important thing.”
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