The Club World Cup feels like a lifetime ago. In reality, it’s less than five months since Chelsea played PSG off the pitch and Donald Trump stole the spotlight.
Trump has fallen even further in popularity since then. In football terms, think Rafa Benitez on his first day at Chelsea.
The whole thing was quite bizarre. Trump told Cole Palmer he was a fan, and proceeded to linger next to the Blues for the duration of their celebrations. You can hardly find a picture of Chelsea with the trophy that doesn’t feature the Commander in Chief.
We’ve heard recollections from Palmer and Reece James, and now Marc Cucurella’s perspective has been shared.
Reece James of Chelsea looks towards U.S President Donald Trump as he prepares to lift trophy
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Marc Cucurella’s reaction to Trump’s Club World Cup intrusion
We heard at the time how James was confused by Trump’s presence at the trophy lift. He wasn’t the only one.
Cucurella had a different reaction, though, as Miguel Delaney has revealed in the Inside Football newsletter.
He writes: “Sources say Reece James, Chelsea’s winning captain, was baffled by the whole thing. Marc Cucurella, meanwhile, thought it was hilarious.
“When one player wanted a selfie, though, a teammate pushed back, saying it would be inappropriate and began to point to Trump’s views.”
Cucurella was on cloud nine after a triumphant final performance. He didn’t spare a second’s thought for who was giving him the trophy, even if it was someone who quite vocally threatens Spain on a regular basis.
START, BENCH, SELL: Marc Cucurella, Reece James and Malo Gusto
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella coming on for Malo Gusto
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Which order are you going with? 🤔
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Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph came at a cost
That win across the pond will live fondly in the memory of Chelsea fans, but the chickens are coming home to roost this season.
Levi Colwill is set to miss the season, while the likes of Palmer, Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia are proof of what so many games can do to a player’s fitness.
It feels as though the ship is now steadying, but there is still a long way to go in the season, and the true cost of the Club World Cup is still unknown.
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