No Thiago Silva. No Benoit Badiashile. Graham Potter has limited options in the backline if he wanted to continue with the same formation as the win against Leeds United over the weekend. The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss knew what Marc Cucurella could bring on the left side of a back three, and his trust paid off.
The £63m price tag seemed quite astronomical considering the lack of consistency he has shown so far. He may not have lived up to that kind of money just yet, but his display at Stamford Bridge against an in-form Dortmund side was a step in the right direction.
While everyone in the defense played their part in contributing to another clean sheet, it was quite noticeable how comfortable the Spaniard looked compared to many of his most recent appearances. In 26 matches played prior to Tuesday night in both the Champions League and the English top-flight season, Cucurella had not accumulated more than two interceptions. His anticipation led the 24-year-old to four interceptions in his first full 90-minute match since the end of January against Liverpool.
In just his sixth Champions League outing in a Chelsea shirt, the Spaniard demonstrated what he can bring to the Blues going forward as a left center back
What a performance! 🤩#UCL pic.twitter.com/nFgUMGJti2
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 7, 2023
In a contest that was going to decide the Blues fate going forward in the Champions League, the former Getefe standout showed a large improvement from his past displays with the west London side. He was one of five players with three or more progressive passes while completing the most passes and accumulating the highest pass completion percentage of any CFC player that played in more than eight minutes. He finished tied with Kai Havertz for the most final third entries for the west London outfit at five against Dortmund.
Cucurella’s interception in the middle of the pitch just six minutes in set the Blues off on their first real attack of the night. Although it did not conclude in a goal, it was a positive sign for things to come later in the game for the Spainard.
The aggression, and willingness to prove his place following a tough period was evident through all 90 minutes. Cucurella always had his eyes up, seeking out his teammates in the final third while staying mindful of the threats coming toward him. Just before halftime, the Spaniard won a header in the middle of the pitch that resulted in a Ben Chilwell strike just wide of the post. Cucurella was quick and decisive in his decision-making allowing for the Blues to use the possession it had in an effective manner.
With what looked like a reinvigorated confidence, Marc Cucurella found his stride for Chelsea in a big way just weeks after being slammed by critics
He kept things simple, and the results proved successful. Whether it was fans on twitter, or even his teammate liking a post taking about his poor performance, the beginning to life in west London for the Spaniard has not been the easiest. Even Frank Leboeuf, one of the 50 players in CFC history that has made 200 or more appearances in blue is on record to have said Cucurella is “not good enough” to play for Potter’s side.
While this is just one game, the Spaniard proved a whole lot of people wrong with a solid performance in the most pressured filled match of CFC’s season so far. Going forward in the Champions League, Potter now knows that Cucurella can play alongside Wesley Fofana, and Kalidou Koulibaly in a back-three with Silva’s injury, and Badiashile’s inability to play in European football for the rest of the campaign.
Edin Terzic’s side was arguably the most in-form team in Europe heading into the match at Stamford Bridge. Cucurella along with stellar displays by nearly all the defenders found a way to shut down BVB for the first time since October 8 against Wolfsburg. Critics can complain all they want about the lack of consistency Cucurella has had throughout his first season in west London.
What he did under the lights in the biggest match of the season was a massive silencer to everyone who wanted him out of the squad. It may take some time to establish complete trust with the fanbase, but a Man of the Match performance to take the Blues into the quarterfinals of the Champions League is an enormous statement in itself.