The Spain defender, who helped Chelsea into the Champions League’s last 16 with a 1-1 with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, has revealed how painful it was to miss his first minutes of league play in almost two years when he was left out of last week’s 1-0 win over Swansea.

It was the first time since a game against Bournemouth in 2015 that Azpilicueta had been on the bench – a run of 74 matches in which he had played all 6,660 minutes.

“Of course it hurt to miss a game,” he said. “I want to play every game. But we are a team. The manager makes the best decisions for the team, and it was important we won the game.

“Sometimes you need a rest. For that we have the manager that sees the performances, the training. He tries to make the best decision and from that all of us have to go in the same direction.

“It was a nice run. I never thought about the amount of games I played in a row, 90 minutes, but I will try to beat that mark. I’m pleased for the number of games because I know it’s difficult.”

A new run began on Saturday in the 3-1 win over Newcastle, and again the numbers were startling. He completing the most passes by any one player in a single game this season, with 120, according to the EA Sports.

He has attempted the most passes of any player in the Premier League this season – overtaking even Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne – attempting 132 against Newcastle, with 61 in the opposition half.

He has provided five assists in League games this season. Only De Bruyne, his City team-mates David Silva and Leroy Sane, and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey have managed more.

No wonder the 29-year-old is widely regarded as Chelsea’s best buy of the modern era, at a paltry £7million from Marseille in August 2012.

Azpilicueta still has some way to go to start challenging club records. Chelsea’s record of most consecutive appearances is 167, held by John Hollins, from August 14, 1971 to September 25, 1974. The most consecutive League appearances record is 164, held by Frank Lampard, from October 13, 2001 to December 26, 2005.

He also knows Tuesday’s draw could land Chelsea with an awkward draw in the knockout phase as it allowed Roma to win the group. But he is not unfazed by whatever may lie ahead.

“If you see the teams that you could face even being first in the group, it would be difficult,” he said. “It is a bit of a difference but, honestly, when you go into the last 16 of the Champions League, you have to face big, big teams and we have to show our level.

“But now it’s time to focus on the Premier League, on the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, and when the Champions League is back in February, we will see how we are.

“We had control of the game against Atletico. In the first half they didn’t have a shot on target. We controlled the game, apart from two, three counter-attacks.

“We knew Atletico were a strong team, they played two finals in the last couple of years. But we had enough chances to win the game.”