Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta hopes a victory in the Community Shield against Arsenal can kick-start a successful Premier League title defence.
The Blues won the league by seven points last season and face London rivals Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday in the curtain-raiser for the 2017-18 campaign.
The fixture is a repeat of last season’s FA Cup final, which the Gunners won 2-1 thanks to goals from Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey.
Azpilicueta insists the Chelsea squad are determined to exact revenge on Arsene Wenger’s charge and says an early trophy will bode well for the rest of the campaign.
‘The Community Shield is really important,’ the Spanish defender told Chelsea’s official website.
Antonio Conte on the Community Shield showdown
It was a pity to lose the FA Cup final against Arsenal after a really great season for us.
Now there is another game. We know very well Arsenal are a strong team. We are expecting a difficult game and we want to start the season with a win.
I think the friendlies have ended for us. This is an official game and the first trophy of the season. It’s an important game, for sure.
‘It’s a trophy to fight for and we are looking forward to playing it. They’re a good team, we know that from the FA Cup final, but we want to get a trophy and start the season well.
‘A first trophy in our first game would be the perfect start to help us focus for the Premier League.’
Chelsea will return to the Champions League this season under Antonio Conte and Azpilicueta insists the squad is capable of challenging in Europe.
‘We are back in the Champions League, too, and our target is to fight for every trophy,’ he added.
‘We know that every year the league is getting harder and harder, and we know that the Champions League is something different.
‘We will try to go for all of it. We have the team to do it, and we have the work ethic to do it.
‘We know you can’t relax in the Premier League; you have to start well from the beginning because if you don’t your chances could be over.’
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