Cesar Azpilicueta admits error of his ways in row with Chelsea fan after Arsenal defeat

Cesar Azpilicueta has admitted to being out line after a furious exchange with a fan following Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal.

The argument was caught on television cameras after the 4-2 loss at Stamford Bridge, before Blues boss Thomas Tuchel sided with the supporter.

Azpilicueta accepts that he was “not himself” in the exchange, after which he offered his captain’s armband to the fan as a gesture of goodwill.

“It looked worse than it was,” he told Sky Sports. “It was at the end of the game and I was angry with my performance, the result, the penalty - everything.

“I spotted him in the crowd but it was nothing to do with him, it was just an exchange of words that looked worse than it was.

“We spoke clearly that he wanted more fight from the team, and he was right. I expressed my view that in that moment we were having difficulties, we were with fewer people in the stadium and we needed to push together in the same direction.

“After the game I saw him again, I gave him my captain’s armband and I think there was respect. I looked at the images and it wasn’t really myself, I was really angry.”

Chelsea have since bounced back to winning ways in the Premier League and travel to Manchester United on Thursday for another key clash in the fight for Champions League football.