FIFA Club World Cup final hero Kai Havertz has hailed Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta for the role he has played in helping him settle in.
Havertz arrived from German club Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 for a fee of £75 million and has played a major role in the team's recent success.
His goal in the UEFA Champions League final secured the 1-0 win over Man City and his penalty in the United Arab Emirates helped Chelsea clinch the Club World Cup.
Havertz's time in west London has been difficult with the Covid-19 pandemic and contracting the virus himself last season.
Because of the stop start nature since his arrival, the 21-year-old has struggled for consistency on the pitch as well as off it and thanked captain Azpilicueta for easing the transition from Germany to England.
“Azpi is just a great person and captain who I really appreciate,” said Havertz.
“He helped me from day one and made it easier for me to arrive.”
Azpilicueta's Blues contract runs out in the summer and at 32, the Spaniard has offers from abroad to continue his playing career away from Stamford Bridge.
Since joining Chelsea in 2012 from Marseille, Azpilicueta has lifted every trophy bar the Community Shield in the blue of Chelsea.
