With the ability to play two roles for the new head coach, Marc Cucurella of Spain might emerge as a crucial player for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca in the upcoming season.
Enzo Maresca could be set to unleash his Leicester tactic at Chelsea (Image: (Photo by James Holyoak/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
Marc Cucurella will be looking to cap off a really successful summer by leading Spain to victory in Germany at Euro 2024. Having been included in Luis de la Fuente’s team and facing competition from Alejandro Grimaldo at left-back after a brilliant season with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, the Chelsea star established himself in La Roja’s starting lineup and went on to impress at the tournament.
Following an incredible 2023–24 season finale with Chelsea, the 25-year-old has truly captured the attention of fellow Spain international Rodri, earning him a tonne of plaudits along the way. Speaking with El Partidazo de Cope, the Man City star mentioned Cucurella in response to a question on which member of the Spain team has surprised him.
According to Rodri (via Metro), “I know them all but… the level that Cucurella is showing.” “I was already familiar with him, but the calibre of play he is displaying in this Euro Cup situation is really helpful, particularly in defence. I really like it, and I hope he keeps doing this well.”
Cucurella will be motivated to carry over his Euros success into the upcoming Premier League season and establish himself as a mainstay in Enzo Maresca’s Blues lineup after such a mixed Chelsea career thus far. Said and done, though, will be more difficult given Ben Chilwell’s rivalry at left-back.
But Grimaldo, who led Bayer Leverkusen to an incredible 12 goals and 20 assists in 51 games the previous season, presents a formidable opponent that should prepare him well for what is ahead at Stamford Bridge. Regarding Cucurella’s future position within his Chelsea squad, Maresca is undoubtedly presented with a few possibilities.
In his first season at Leicester City, the Italian’s method proved to be effective as the team earned promotion back to the Premier League. Now that the Blues are back in the hunt for a playoff spot in west London, he will be hoping for a similar outcome. Regarding Maresca’s defence for Leicester, right-back Ricardo Pereira would enter midfield and play from there whenever the Foxes had the ball, allowing the other three defenders to create a back three.
This could definitely happen at Chelsea, where Reece James or Malo Gusto would enter the game from their right-back positions and advance the play from the middle of the pitch. Maresca can also operate similarly from the left wing, as Cucurella did in the last weeks of Mauricio Pochettino’s coaching career when Chelsea made a late push for Europe.
The Argentine’s choice proved to be a brilliant one as his left-back affected the play that followed. This was especially true in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, as Pochettino’s tactical adjustment helped the Blues overcome a two-goal disadvantage. Conor Gallagher scored an equaliser nine minutes from time as a result of Villa’s inability to handle the midfield overload.
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Cucurella was crucial to the Blues’ two very good victories as they went on to play that way in their next two games against West Ham and Tottenham. Next season, Maresca will have to decide which of the talented candidates to fill the job on either flank he wants to use the former Brighton & Hove Albion player permanently.
Cucurella does, after all, have experience playing in a back three for both Chelsea and Brighton, should James or Gusto decide to switch from right-back. Cucurella can thrive under his new manager, Maresca, regardless of the role he plays under him the next season. In recent months, he has proven his worth as a player for both club and nation.
