Chelsea’s hammering of Juventus in the Champions League in November 2021 should have been the perfect game.
Under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea were able to beat Juventus 4-0, with Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Timo Werner all scoring on the night.
In the reverse fixture, the Blues lost 1-0, so they were able to get their revenge at Stamford Bridge.
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However, revenge came at a cost for Tuchel and his side, who went on to lose one of their most important players to injury.
Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell injured
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Ben Chilwell was never the same after ACL injury
Ben Chilwell was perhaps not as talented as some of his Chelsea teammates, but he was essential to Tuchel’s system as a left wing-back. It was why his injury in the Champions League tie was so devastating.
Chilwell sustained an ACL tear and did not play again until the very end of the 2021/22 season.
The following campaign, the defender also picked up a hamstring injury, resulting in him missing the 2022 World Cup.
The 2023/24 season was no better, with Chilwell sustaining another hamstring injury before hurting his knee.
Ultimately, Chilwell never recovered from the ACL injury he picked up against Juventus and was finally sold to Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg in the summer.
In September, it was claimed that Everton tried to sign Chilwell on loan before his move to Strasbourg.
Chelsea players celebrating goal against Juventus
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Marc Cucurella resurgence saved Chelsea
During his prime at Chelsea, Chilwell was one of the top left-backs in the Premier League. Replacing him should have been difficult, but thanks to Marc Cucurella, it was not in the end.
Cucurella made a really underwhelming start to life at Chelsea, but fast forward to now, and many would name him among the elite full-backs in the world.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara spoke about Cucurella last month and said: “I remember when Cucurella went in at Chelsea. He was terrible, and everyone was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s the worst £60m we’ve ever spent’. Cucurella — now you probably put him in one of the top five defenders, left-backs, in the world. He’s brilliant, so you’ve got to give players time.”
Chilwell’s injury issues really set Chelsea back. That and Cucurella’s initial struggles in west London made the left-back position a real problem position for the Blues.
Following the Spain international’s revival, though, you can now call it one of Chelsea’s strengths.