Marc Cucurella has easily been one of the beneficiaries of Chelsea’s appointment of Enzo Maresca last summer.
During the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, Cucurella was one of the best players in the Italian’s squad.
Without him, Chelsea would probably not have finished fourth in the table and qualified for the Champions League.
Maresca thinks Cucurella has really improved under him, and the defender has now explained why he has been able to perform so well since his manager’s arrival.
Marc Cucurella #3 of Chelsea FC dribbles the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group D match between CR Flamengo and Chelsea FC
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Marc Cucurella thinks Barcelona education is helping him to thrive under Enzo Maresca
Chelsea signed Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022, but before then, the left-back spent time at Getafe, Eibar and Barcelona.
Cucurella came through La Masia, Barcelona’s famous academy, and it was there where the Spain international was given an education that is now helping him to excel under Maresca.
“The manager, Enzo, loves to play with the ball and possession, and I had a similar education during my time at La Masia,” Cucurella explained (via Chelsea’s official website). “You need to understand the game, and at La Masia it was about attacking with the ball, having possession.
“Maybe the things I learned when I was young are the reason I feel very good in this role and shape.”
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For as good as Cucurella has become at Stamford Bridge, he could probably do with some cover. The Euro 2024 winner played a lot of football last season.
Chelsea have Renato Veiga and Ben Chilwell, who can play at left-back, but the duo could both leave the club this summer after spending the second half of the previous campaign out on loan at Juventus and Crystal Palace respectively.
Before Thomas Frank’s switch to Tottenham Hotspur, Chilwell was being linked to Brentford.
Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke of Chelsea during a training session
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Marc Cucurella explains how he’s transformed into Chelsea’s match-winner
Cucurella’s improvement is probably best summed up by his new-found goalscoring ability. He was such a threat for Chelsea last term, scoring seven goals in all competitions.
It is an excellent return for a full-back, with one of his goals even being a match-winner against Manchester United.
“I don’t work on finishing!” Cucurella admitted. “It’s more about understanding the position, being in the right moment, and it’s true that this season I’ve scored a lot of goals. When you score a few, you get the feeling that every time you’re in the box, you’ll score. It’s really good, and hopefully I can score more in the future.
“I think it’s more about being in the right place at the right time. Some of them are just about getting into the box, not thinking too much, or taking one touch. It’s about understanding the position and the base of the game.”
Hopefully, the former Brighton man can maintain his form next season. If he does, then that should help Maresca’s men to have another positive campaign. The aim has to be another top-four finish and cup success, which definitely seems achievable with the squad that Maresca has.