When Marc Cucurella walked into the TV broadcast room inside the Stamford Bridge tunnel to conduct his post-Leicester interview, the defender looked like a man thrilled, yet relieved, to have helped the Blues to victory.
Chelsea eventually ran out 1-0 winners at Stamford Bridge against a resolute Foxes side intent on frustrating us with a low block, with Cucurella’s fourth league strike of the season ensuring we secured the points and took a step closer to a top-four finish.
It looked at one stage if it would be ‘one of those days’. Cole Palmer, so often our talisman, saw a first-half penalty saved by Mads Hermansen, while Tosin Adarabioyo was glad to see a mistimed clearance bounce away to safety via his own crossbar.
However, on the hour mark, Cucurella drove into space before arrowing a low drive into the bottom corner in front of the Matthew Harding Stand to send Stamford Bridge into raptures and, ultimately, ensure a big home victory.
Speaking to the left-back after the game, the Spain international accepted that the visitors succeeded in frustrating the Blues but believes the patience showed by Enzo Maresca’s side was deserving of us securing the victory.
‘It was difficult because we prepared for the game in a certain way and then Leicester came here and set up with a different approach,’ Cucurella said shortly after the full-time whistle.
‘So we had to adjust and maybe that took us a little bit of time, because they had a lot of players behind the ball to make things difficult for us.
‘We had to remain patient, not rush things and trust that what we had planned would eventually come good. In the second half, we did that and managed to get the goal we needed.
‘Then it was a case of defending well and being solid and I thought the entire team did that very well.’
The former Brighton man has excelled for Maresca’s Blues this season, providing for the team both defensively and offensively – as highlighted by his goal against the Foxes.
That was his fourth of the season and the left-back admitted he felt it was worth a go when the space opened up for him.
‘I was very happy to score,’ our No.3 explained.
‘Enzo [Fernandez] passed me the ball, I took a touch and could see that it was opening up for me. Usually, I wouldn’t shoot in that situation but here I tried it and thankfully it found the corner.
‘Seeing the ball go in was a great feeling and I’m just very happy to help the team to three points. We needed that win and it was important we got the points in the end to help us move towards our objectives.
‘Now we must recover well because we have another big game coming up against Copenhagen in the Conference League.’
Before we left the Spaniard, we had to ask him about the ‘penguin celebration’ he keeps pulling out each time he scores for Chelsea, to get his view on what the meaning behind it is and to clear up any suggestions that it’s based on the ‘slips’ he suffered against Tottenham earlier this season.
‘Ah, the celebration!’ Cucu began, with a beaming smile. ‘Well a lot of people think it’s because of this [slipping against Spurs] but it’s not.
‘Actually, it’s because I saw on the internet that penguins choose one partner and family for their entire life. I am a big family man and I want to remember my family.
‘They always support me in my best and worst moments, so the celebration is for them.’