Jadon Sancho has explained why Marc Cucurella’s excellent form is such good news for Chelsea’s wingers.
The Blues made it three wins in a row across all competitions on Sunday afternoon with a 1-0 win over Leicester City, as Cucurella’s second-half strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards settled the contest.
That moved us back into fourth in the Premier League table with a two-point advantage on Manchester City and Newcastle United in fifth and sixth, leaving Sancho in no doubt it was an important result for Chelsea, even if we were made to work hard for the three points by the determined visitors.
‘It was a much-needed win,’ said Sancho. ‘We knew Leicester were going to come here and give it their all but we just stuck to the game plan the coach described before the game.
‘We knew they were going to come here and obviously try to get the three points but we stuck to the game plan and I feel like everyone pushed 100 per cent and we got the three points.
‘It was very difficult playing against a back line of five, especially for the wingers. We like to go one-v-one but with a line of five sometimes it can be two or three-v-one, so we just have to find the spare man in the middle of the field and try to get our opportunities from there.
‘We had a lot of chances we should have converted to a few more goals. But that’s football, you score some and you miss some. So we’re just happy that Cucu found space at the edge of the box and got the goal.’
That decisive strike by Cucurella was the fifth time this season the defender has found the back of the net for the Blues, and made it back-to-back Premier League goals for the Spaniard, having also finished the scoring in the 4-0 win at Southampton a week earlier.
It was a fine goal and a sign of the impressive form Cucurella has been showing in a Chelsea shirt this season, something Sancho is well aware of from playing ahead of him on the left flank so often, even if the winger joined [Wesley Fofana](/en/teams/profile/wesley-fofana) on the right on this occasion.
‘To be fair, in training he does that quite often so I’m not surprised, he’s having a great season,’ Jadon continued.
‘It was a great effort. When he found space I didn’t know he was going to shoot, but when he shot I kind of had that feeling it was going to go in. I’m happy for him.
‘It’s great playing with Cucu behind me. This time I wasn’t but I just know that feeling when he is behind you. He’s 100 per cent all the time, you just know he’s going to give it his all.’
That win over Leicester is the first of three games in the space of eight days, as we host Copenhagen in the second leg of our UEFA Conference League last-16 tie – with a 2-1 lead from last week’s match in Denmark – before a Premier League trip to second-placed Arsenal on Sunday.
Speaking immediately after the match, Sancho said: ‘Like I’ve said throughout the season, we have to take it game by game and we’ve got some tough games coming up. The recovery starts now because going into every game 100 per cent is the aim.
‘We go into every game wanting to win and get the three points. The next two games against Copenhagen and Arsenal, we have to be prepared and that preparation starts on Monday.’