Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta admits the team's injection of youth this season has been unusual.

With Chelsea this season fielding one of their youngest sides in Premier League history, the role of the experienced captain perhaps has extra significance as a new era at the club is forged.

"It is a new challenge and it is something unusual to have a transfer ban," Azpilicueta told chelseafc.com.

"We have a lot of players coming through the Academy and it is a big responsibility and I enjoy the role. I have had the chance to play a lot of games and win trophies so my responsibility is to help all of them, to get them into the team with confidence to show what they have shown in the Academy or with the loan spells where they were very successful.

"I am always ready to help them when they need it. They know I am here to help them but what I always had is the passion and the hunger to keep winning and it is something that we must never lose."