‘I played five minutes and it was my fault’

A CHELSEA ace endured his first and only horror season after moving to Stamford Bridge. The Blues splashed a staggering £62million to sign the Premier League star in 2022 following a brilliant campaign. But upon his arrival in west London, Marc Cucurella struggled to replicate the impressive performances he displayed at Brighton the season before. Cucurella, 26, opened up about his difficult start with the Blues after reuniting with former Seagulls boss Graham Potter, who helped him burst onto the scene in the English top flight.

Image Credit: The Sun [Chelsea players react to a referee's decision.]

The versatile full-back's struggles didn't hit home until a disappointing match at rivals Fulham in January 2023 when Chelsea lost 2-1. The Spain international barely played 10 minutes after coming on as a late second-half sub. Cucurella felt confused and his confidence was shattered with a section of the Chelsea fans booing him as he never had a bad season with any of his former teams until he joined the West Londoners.

Image Credit: The Sun [Kenny Tete of Fulham FC vying for the ball with Marc Cucurella of Chelsea.]

However, the defender took full responsibility and recognised it as "his fault". Now the ex-Brighton star has been established as a key figure for new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. Cucurella told La Media Inglesa: “When things started to get a bit complicated, it’s difficult because you start to notice that everything that happens is your fault. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS.

Image Credit: The Sun [Cucurella admitting fault.]

“I remember a game, I think we lost, at Fulham. 2-1, I think, or 2-0. I played for five minutes or 10 minutes and [it was] my fault, you know. “I say yes, I know, but I haven’t played. And then people boo me, this is also difficult. “And I don’t know, you lose a bit of, above all, your confidence in yourself. I think this is the most important thing. “It’s difficult, but ultimately I am working to reach a point where [I feel that] on the day you play well you’re not the greatest and on the day you play badly you’re not the worst.

Image Credit: The Sun [Marc Cucurella's 2024-25 Chelsea season statistics.]

“I came from [an environment] where this had never happened to me. "I want to say that in every team I was at before, I always played and everything was great. I’d never had a bad season in any team. “And clearly, I came here [to Chelsea] and in my first year this happened to me and it was difficult. “But then, ultimately, like everything in life, until it happens to you, you don’t know how to confront it.