Cesar Azpilicueta: Chelsea captain ‘speaking’ in hospital after head injury, says Graham Potter

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta thanked “everyone who has been looking after me” after the nasty head injury he suffered during Saturday’s home defeat by Southampton.

Azpilicueta lay motionless on the pitch after being struck in the face by Sekou Mara as the Saints substitute attempted an overhead kick.

The 33-year-old Spain defender received oxygen treatment for several minutes before being taken off on a stretcher, though he was conscious as he left the field.

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After the game, Chelsea manager Graham Potter said Azpilicueta was “conscious” and “speaking” in hospital.

On Sunday, the full-back tweeted: “My family and I would like to thank everyone who has been looking after me since yesterday’s incident.

“From the @ChelseaFC medical team, to team-mates and opponents, to St Mary’s and Cleveland Hospital and all staff members and doctors: a massive thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now, time to recover and I will see you soon on the pitch!”

“It was a bad moment for us,” Potter said on Saturday. “I think he was unconscious at one point, so it was worrying for everyone. It was accidental but still it was a kick in the face. You can see how bad it was.”

James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick in first-half stoppage time condemned the Blues to their fifth defeat of 2023 and left them 10 points off the Premier League top four with 15 league games remaining.

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