Since the debacle conceded against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League (2-8, cumulative score), doubts have seriously fallen on the Chelsea project. Currently in sixth place in the Premier League, the London club only has one FA Cup left to save its season, in addition to being well on its way to not qualifying for C1 next season. Enough to cause frustration in the locker room. And this Tuesday, executive Marc Cucurella took advantage of his time with the Spanish selection to discuss the problems of his club, which he joined in 2022.
Marc Cucurella still marked by the defeat against PSG
Looking back on the defeat against PSG, Marc Cucurella admitted in an interview for The Athletic that having too many young players had been a problem, “because for many players, it was the first time they played a match of this caliber”. He notably questioned the recruitment policy for young players: “I understand that this is part of the club’s policy and that they want to move in this direction (…), but for us who have been here for a long time and want to win big titles, moments like this are discouraging. We have a good core of players. But to claim big trophies like the Premier League or the C1, you need more”he said, explaining that the current workforce made it difficult to achieve these objectives.
Added to this is a complication of managing coaches that is difficult to follow for Chelsea executives. If he salutes the work of Liam Rosenior, someone close to the group and who knew how to manage the group perfectly and with great footballing ideas, he believes that he and his teammates “don’t have time to put them into practice”indicating that the change of manager in the middle of the season “leaves no time for work on the training ground”. The full-back, who has had six coaches since his arrival, also did not understand the departure of Enzo Maresca, without opposing the arrival of Rosenior.
Coaching changes that annoy executives
“We knew what Maresca expected of us. Winning a title like the Club World Cup is also an asset, it strengthens ties and creates great relationships (…). Maresca’s departure had a huge impact on us. These are decisions made by the club. If you had asked my opinion, I would not have made this decision. For a change of this magnitude, it is best to wait until the end of the season. This gives everyone time to prepare and do thorough preparation”released the 27-year-old defender, while the ex-Strasbourg coach is already being questioned.
And for Marc Cucurella, all this explains the instability that reigns within the London club. “The instability that reigns within the club comes from there, in summary. First we had an interim coach, then a new coach, with new ideas and no time to implement them. That’s how it is”. Marc Cucurella’s frustration with the situation at Chelsea sounds like a cry of warning to his management, while several executives, like Enzo Fernández, seem determined to throw in the towel and look elsewhere.
