Good Morning Ladies and Gents,
This just a quick one to give Marc Cucurella some flowers.
Cucu has been absolutely top draw post-surgery, for Chelsea he was aggressive but controlled, a top performer, an engine and showed a real ability to take situations by the scruff of the neck to win the ball or play a risky pass.
That form got him into the Spain squad where he hadn’t featured for his country since 2021, he has taken that chance brilliantly, keeping the incredibly impressive Grimaldo out of the team and at this rate putting himself in the conversation to be in the team of the tournament.
If this is the Cucurella we are going to be seeing from now on then we must keep him around and potentially can hold off buying a new left back for now, he suits Enzo Maresca’s system perfectly with his ability to invert or to play as a CB in a back 3.
Don’t get me wrong there is still MAJOR doubt in my mind (whether this can be maintained) but this is 3/4 months of consistent good performances and real signs that he may of turned a corner.
Lets see what happens, but IF this Cucurella stays consistent we have a top class player on our hands. We have to remember the context behind his first 12/18 months at the club and that nobody performed in that period of time and he got a lot of stick because of his value.
I never ever ever in a million years imagined myself saying these things 6 months ago but credit where its due.
p.s. Stay tuned for my Striker Article out this afternoon.
Thanks for reading.
Luke Rushbrook
Great article totally agree so pleased for him that he has done well in the latter part of the season and has been brilliant for spain he seems to be very much liked by all the squad too I hope he stays 💙
Luke a well timed and appropriate article under the circumstances of us considering the purchase of another left back.
I have to be honest and say that I am not being the greatest supporter of MC and have been unimpressed with him for the majority of his period at Chelsea. However, I can agree as you suggest that he has gradually improved, particularly in the last third of last season and he has been first class and the two games he played in the Euros.
I can with you that for the foreseeable future he could be the solution especially in the new structure the team are likely to play. Given time he may save us a lot of money or at least until we find a left back version of Gusto.
Interestingly both The Times and The Telegraph have produced excellent articles about him in the past week and there is also some interesting background about one of his children that might not be known to everybody that made have affected his form in the first season. I like you are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being, but the jury is still out.