Troy Deeney has admitted that one Chelsea player has managed to win him over after early doubts.
In fairness, there’s plenty of individuals in the Chelsea squad that have increased their levels this season.
Following Chelsea’s 2-1 win at home to Brentford on Sunday, they now sit second in the Premier League table. It’s a huge credit to Enzo Maresca for making such a gigantic impact since he became the Blues manager in the summer.
Chelsea boss Maresca insists his side still aren’t title contenders, even though they will temporarily go top of the table with a win away to Everton on Sunday afternoon.
Marc Cucurella of Chelsea reacts after the team's victory during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Brentford FC at Stamford Bridge on...
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Troy Deeney hails Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella
During his weekly segment, Troy Deeney named Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella in his Premier League Team of the Week after his performance in Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Brentford.
Cucurella, 26, was at the thick of the action in the weekend’s match. The left-back enjoyed a superb performance and scored his first goal of the season, but he was sent off after the final whistle for his part in an altercation.
It’s interesting to hear Deeney admit that the Spanish defender has managed to win him over.
When naming Cucurella in his Team of the Week, Deeney told BBC Sport: “I can’t deny he’s been playing really well for Chelsea this year. He stupidly got sent off at the end of the game but even so he is performing above expectation.
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“When Chelsea first signed him I wasn’t so sure. But he’s since been a really consistent performer, to the point where Chelsea will probably end up selling Ben Chilwell. That just shows how good the lad has been doing.
“And he had a great finish as well.”
Frank Leboeuf says Cucurella is now a “leader” at Chelsea, which just highlights how things have turned for him after a tough start in west London.
The Blues paid £60m (BBC) to sign Cucurella from Brighton in the summer of 2022. It’s fair to say that he made a slow start and received plenty of criticism over his price tag. Now, he’s consistently performing as one of the very best full-backs in the Premier League.
Will Marc Cucurella play on Thursday?
Chelsea face Shamrock Rovers on Thursday night in their final group stage match of the Conference League.
The usual pattern is Maresca will make wholesale changes for the midweek European tie, which will rest his best players ahead of Sunday’s league trip to Everton. However, Cucurella could be a surprise inclusion in the starting XI.
With Cucurella suspended for the Everton fixture, Renato Veiga would be his logical replacement in the starting XI at Goodison Park. Therefore, it may be too risky to play the left-back just a few days before against Shamrock Rovers.
Veiga should be set for a huge Chelsea opportunity at Everton, so it makes sense for Cucurella to get another runout in midweek.
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