Azpilicueta noticed that Spain's new generation of football stars seem to share a similar confidence, which has helped them step up to deal with the pressure of a World Cup campaign.
Gavi, who is 18, started each of Spain's group games at the World Cup and scored in the 7-0 mauling of Costa Rica.
Azpilicueta remembers Gavi's Spain debut last year, when the youngster shocked him with how self-assured and aggressive he was in his approach to the game.
"This is a new generation. There are times you help but the kids now have such confidence," Azpilicueta told The Guardian.
"Take Gavi's debut. They were telling me: 'Keep him calm.' What do you mean, 'Keep him calm'? Normally you have to get them going, push them.
"No, no, not him: there he was kicking people. I was like: there's no way I could have done that at 17."
Spain will take on Morocco in the World Cup's round of 16, where a victory would set up a quarter-final clash with either Portugal or Switzerland.