- Defender Marc Cucurella has played a key role in Chelsea’s recovery
- Coach Mauricio Pochettino has told his left back to play much more centrally
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Long after full-time, once Stamford Bridge had emptied to leave only the cleaners in the stands, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart emerged from the tunnel full of smiles after one of their usual visits to the Chelsea dressing room.
The two sporting directors have reason to hope that their signings will prove their worth in time to secure European football – from Noni Madueke to Moisés Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson – although they cannot take credit for being one of the catalysts for this upturn in shape.
That’s Marc Cucurella, the left-back who now moves into midfield and shows why Pep Guardiola wanted to sign him for Manchester City before Chelsea paid Brighton £55m plus £7m.
Cucurella signed in August 2022 before the arrivals of Winstanley and Stewart, but the 25-year-old is in the middle of a satisfying redemption arc at Stamford Bridge.
His first start of the season came in the Carabao Cup against League Two Wimbledon, a 2-1 win in which his name was booed as he was linked with a loan move to Manchester United.
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella enjoying a satisfying redemption at Stamford Bridge
Cucurella’s touch map in the first half against Villa (I) and in the second half after the tactical change
Now, he is as valuable as any in Mauricio Pochettino’s latest push for Europe, one of those who would constitute a “blow” if he suddenly appeared on the club’s unpredictable injury list after his contributions to the 2-0 victories and 5-0. Tottenham and West Ham.
When Chelsea have possession, Cucurella moves into midfield alongside Moisés Caicedo, a move that allows Conor Gallagher to move further up the field to the number 10 position he has become accustomed to occupying.
Gallagher’s presence, in turn, gives Cole Palmer the license to roam, usually to the right side, where he has been at his best.
It is a new tactical adjustment from Pochettino, as Cucurella had previously acted as a typical wide man when starting out in the Premier League.
Insiders say this is a change the manager has been considering for some time, even practicing it in 11v11 training sessions at Cobham, but it was at half-time from the trip to Aston Villa less than two weeks ago that Pochettino decided to test it properly.
In the first half at Villa Park, Cucurella remained level on the left side as Chelsea trailed 2-0. In the second half, Pochettino decided to go all out and asked his left back to play much more centrally as the visitors came back to draw 2-2.
We’ve seen Chelsea managers make tactical changes mid-match before, notably Antonio Conte and his 3-4-3 setup at half-time of a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, which ultimately won them the Premier League .
Whether you like it or not, Pochettino deserves credit for this adjustment that has given the club the opportunity to finish the season well.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has told his left-back to play much more centrally
Cucurella touch map against West Ham (left) and Chelsea’s average positions during the match
Since that draw at Villa, Chelsea have beaten Tottenham, cleaned up with West Ham and now face a trip to Nottingham Forest this Saturday in which Cucurella is likely to continue his reverse forays to partner Caicedo while Enzo Fernandez recovers from surgery .
Cucurella is performing as well as we have seen in a Chelsea shirt and insiders are delighted with him, with one saying that his teammates often cite him as the “funniest” in the dressing room.
That friendliness is the reason why those around him want him to be much more liked by outsiders at the club. Let him continue with an impressive performance like this and he will soon earn those accolades.
