Dario Essugo: Being able to wear the captain's armband was indeed a surprise to me, but this honor means a lot to me.

Dario Essugo was thrilled to captain Chelsea in their final preseason match . He believes that manager Xabi Alonso's decision to hand him the captain's armband is a recognition of his recent performances and abilities, and also shows that he has gradually gained the trust of the coaching staff.  

Chelsea will face Malaysian league champions Johor Darul Ta'zim in the final match of their summer tour, marking the team's fifth pre-season friendly. Prior to this, Chelsea visited Sydney, Hong Kong, and Indonesia, concluding their Asian tour in Malaysia on Sunday.  

In this match against Johor Darul Ta'zim, Dario Essugo captained Chelsea for the first time. While the appointment was somewhat unexpected, wearing the captain's armband was undoubtedly an exciting honor. The match ended in a 3-3 draw, with Liam Delap converting two penalties, while Johor Darul Ta'zim conceded an own goal in the final stages to help Chelsea avoid defeat.  

After the match, Dario Essugo spoke about his first time as Chelsea captain, saying: "It was a surprise to wear the captain's armband, but it's a huge honor for me, and I really cherish this experience. I never thought I would have the opportunity to be the captain of this great club at such a young age, so this moment means a lot to me, and I really enjoy it."  

"I think this is significant not only for me, but also for all players. Age doesn't completely determine a person's ability; what's more important is whether you have enough maturity. Therefore, we must continue to accumulate experience, learn from the game, and always maintain a positive attitude."  

Dario Essugo also expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by manager Xabi Alonso and spoke about his experience working with the new manager over this period. Since Xabi Alonso officially took over Chelsea this summer, Dario Essugo has gradually felt the changes in the team's training and match philosophy.  

Dario Essugo said: “I really enjoy every day working with the head coach. In fact, we’ve talked about this many times during the preseason. He was a very good player in the past, and now as a coach, he has impressed me just as much. It was a surprise that he made me captain, but I’m very happy about it. For me, he is first and foremost a very good person, and that’s the most important thing.”  

With the preseason tour concluded, Chelsea will return to their Cobham training ground to continue their final preparations for the new season. Dario Essugo also expressed his gratitude to the fans who have accompanied and supported the team throughout the tournament, especially those who showed their enthusiastic support in Malaysia and at each stop of the tour.  

He added: "This tour was truly amazing. It was my first preseason tour in three years, and it was an unforgettable experience for me and my teammates. Now that the tour is over, we are all very happy and ready to return to London."  

"Being able to play in front of fans all over the world is a very special experience for me. For example, when we arrived at the hotel at around 3 a.m. yesterday, there were still many fans waiting for us, which touched all of us deeply. The support that fans give to the team is very meaningful, and we are really happy and hope to repay their enthusiasm with our performance."  

Image source: Internet/Chelsea official website