Chelsea v Southampton halted for TEN minutes due to serious injury to Azpilicueta

Chelsea v Southampton had to be halted for TEN minutes due to a serious injury to César Azpilicueta who was stretchered off.

The Spaniard went down after what looked like a nasty collision with Sékou Mara, who was also seen raher distressed by what happened.

Lots of players immediately crowded around Azpilicueta to check on his condition before the medical team got to him and players moved aside.

Trevoh Chalobah and Conor Gallagher came to to replace Cesar Azpilicueta and Ben Chilwell, with huge applause around the stadium and away end for the injured Blues star.

A sickening injury for Cesar Azpilicueta who was accidentally kicked flush in the face by Southampton sub Sekou Mara.

The Chelsea captain fell to the ground with play was immediately stopped. Mateo Kovacic was alert to the situation, making sure his teammate hadn’t swallowed his tongue.

Sékou Mara with an attempted overhead kickoff but kicked Cesar Azpilicueta in the head.pic.twitter.com/PbZGbpKfW7

— H/F (@hfworld_) February 18, 2023

Sending our best wishes to César 🙏

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) February 18, 2023

Fara Williams on Final Score said: “He’s been down a long time. When something like this happens you want the right precautions to take place. The medics are on there and the right thing to do is make sure the player is right before you remove him from the pitch. We can’t see clear pictures but it doesn’t look great.”

Paul Merson on Soccer Saturday: “He took it right in the face and everyone straight away has come over. This doesn’t look great. This is a worry.”

Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday: “This looks really serious. The two managers are now discussing matters with each other.”

Paul Merson added: “He’s gone off on a stretcher in a neck brace and with oxygen. Hopefully he’s alright. What a servant for Chelsea.”

The Chelsea skipper was taken to hospital but according to Graham Potter, is thankfully conscious and talking. He will be monitored for the time being.

As Chelsea played against Southampton, the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge became toxic.

Thanks to James Ward-Prowse’s free kick, the managerless Saints went into the break at 1-0, and it turned out to be the winner.

After a poor challenge by Cesar Azpilicueta on Stuart Armstrong, six yards outside the penalty box, the visitors won an free kick just as the second half was winding down.

He sent it in in true JWP fashion, with fans of the relegation favourites in raptures at the away end, and the majority at Stamford Bridge made their thoughts known at the half time, as they did again with boos come full time

Chelsea came into the match with two wins in 13 and continue that streak in what has been a difficult start for Graham Potter at the club, with pressure on his stay at the club.

Ward-Prowse’s free kick brings his total of Premier League free-kicks to 17, one less than David Beckham, an ex-dead ball specialist.

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga (6), Chilwell (5), Badiashile (5), Koulibaly (4), Azpilicueta (6), Kovacic (6), Fernandez (6), Madueke (5), Joao Felix (5), Mount (5), David Datro Fofana (6).

Subs: Chalobah (n/a), Mudryk (5), Sterling (7), Gallagher (n/a), Havertz (7), Wesley Fofana (6).

Southampton: Bazunu (8), Stuart Armstrong (7), Maitland-Niles (8), Bednarek (8), Kotchap (8), Perraud (8), Ward-Prowse (8), Lavia (8), Elyounoussi (6), Sulemana (6), Onuachu (6).

Subs: Lyanco (n/a), Adam Armstrong (5), Mara (5), Alcaraz (n/a), Diallo (n/a), Walcott (6).

Player of the match: James Ward-Prowse.

Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, speaking to BBC Sport: “We build from this now and don’t look back. It feels like a bit of a fresh start.

“We are delighted for him [interim boss Ruben Selles]. He has come in and shown a real calmness. We just have to go out, deliver and believe in ourselves and you could see that from minute one today.”

Graham Potter says César Azpilicueta has been taken to hospital. pic.twitter.com/5APa8LvDlW

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 18, 2023

This is what social media users had to say with Chelsea v Southampton halted for ten minutes due to serious injury to Azpilicueta…

@OliverMisher: #CHESOU Get well soon Azpilicueta. 🙏

@CHEEEKYsausage: I really hope that Cesar Azpilicueta is in the best possible hands and that he’s on the mend very soon! It was such a nasty accident 😥 #SaintsFC #ChelseaFC

@ellielouisapugh: that’s terrifying hope azpilicueta is okay

@VPSoban2912: Hoping that it is not serious and Azpilicueta recovers from that incident. That was a scary sight 😭🙏🏽❤️

@icy7_YNWA: Hoping Azpilicueta is okay and it’s not as serious as it looks ❤️🙏

@FinalThirdShow: I Hope Azpilicueta is okay. Refs need to do more to protect the well being of players, and players should be punished for injuring a player in this sort of manner. Horrific.

@totalrj24: Get well soon 💙

@DominicMorganJ2: Hope it’s not a bad one! Never nice to see a player go off on a stretcher

@JA_fc99: Premier League & Chelsea legend. Hope he’s ok 🤞⚽️

@KruerEthan: Azpi gets his head almost taken off, has to be taken out on a stretcher and on oxygen… Yellow card… unbelievable

@HarryBrimson: How this isn’t a red is beyond me. Man jumped in the air and got bicycle kicked. Whether the intention was to play the ball or not it’s resulted in a potential career and life altering injury

@invinciblog: Damn. This looks awful. I hope @CesarAzpi recovers soon. Bicycle kick goes horribly wrong. Great to see how quickly players from both teams respond. Football is everything, but at the end of the day it’s just a game.

@LindsayACross: I just hope Cesar Azpilicueta is ok… he seems like such an amazing human. Wishing him all the best!