Chelsea moved to within two points of the Premier League summit as Marc Cucurella continued his remarkable ascent to score in a 2-1 win against Brentford at Stamford Bridge. The defender was seemingly a symbol of Chelsea’s botched recruitment for much of his first two seasons after moving from Brighton, but like his team-mates this season he has been rejuvenated as Enzo Maresca watched his side without question insert themselves into the title race.
The head coach has repeatedly insisted his young squad are not ready to challenge but this was their fifth league victory in a row and, despite Fabio Carvalho striking the bar at 1-0 after Cucurella’s opener and Bryan Mbeumo jangling nerves with a goal at the start of seven added minutes, it was as commanding a one-goal win as could be hoped for.
Nicolas Jackson, another player once pilloried but whose name rang out around the ground, had earlier netted Chelsea’s crucial second goal 10 minutes from time. However, the loudest cheers were reserved for Cucurella. The Spain international has always been an energetic player but since returning from his country’s victorious Euro 2024 campaign – where he played a key role – there has been new purpose to his play, pressing with a keen awareness of space and making attacking runs that have stretched defences.
