Marc Cucurella ensured Chelsea remain in the race for Champions League football by scoring the decisive goal that helped the London club defeat Manchester United.
The 26-year-old got on the end of Reece James’ cross in the 71st minute to power home his seventh goal of the season and rescue the Blues just as two vital points looked to be slipping away.
Victory over United at Stamford Bridge means Chelsea now need to record another positive result in their final game against Nottingham Forest to get a place in next season’s Champions League.
Speaking after the match, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca pointed to Cucurella’s Barcelona connections after the defender produced another impressive performance.
Marc Cucurella celebrates scoring against Manchester United FC at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
“Very nice, the assist from the right full-back, the goal from the left full-back,” said Maresca. “It’s the way I like to play.
“Marc has already scored similar goals against Brentford and Wolves. He was in the right position at the right moment.
“It’s not about how big you are or how small or tall. He is an intelligent player and he is helping us with goals.”
A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, he made only one senior appearance for the Catalan club in a Copa del Rey fixture before being sold to Getafe in 2020, moving to the Amex Stadium a year later.
“He has a background with Barcelona so he grew up in a club where the philosophy that I like is similar,” said Maresca.
“So the reason he is doing so good with us is because we know what he can do. The way we like to play is exactly the way that is good for him.
“It’s not important how big you are, it’s important to understand where you have to be, the position, the moment.”
Cucurella has been Chelsea’s most improved player this season and looks transformed from the uncertain, error-prone defender that arrived from Brighton for £56million in 2022.
If his goal to defeat United contributes to Champions League qualification he will have gone a long way towards repaying that fee, and the faith shown in him by successive Chelsea managers.
