The 3-0 win over FC Barcelona has given Chelsea fans the confidence that this team can once again compete with Europe's elite teams. Of course, we will learn a lot more about this side at the weekend when they face Arsenal, who are arguably the most in-form team in world football right now and won against Bayern Munich this week.
Facing Arsenal will be a different sort of challenge. They will be a lot better defensively than Barcelona were and will make it difficult for the Chelsea players to carve out openings, something they did for fun against Hansi Flick's side.
So, a tactical adjustment is needed on the part of Enzo Maresca. But no matter what the Italian coach decides, it is safe to say that Marc Cucurella will remain a key figure in it.
Cucurella kept Lamine Yamal, who some believe is the best player in the world already, completely quiet. Now, he will be tasked with doing the same to Bukayo Saka. Let's see if he is successful or not. At the same time, it is worth confirming some great news regarding the Spaniard.
Fabrizio Romano confirms Chelsea agreed deal with world-class player
As reported by Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel, Cucurella signed an improved contract with Chelsea in August. There was no official communication regarding it, but it is a done deal.
Cucurella received a ton of criticism during his first year-and-a-half at Chelsea. But it was clear that there was something about it when Mauricio Pochettino handed him an inverted full-back role.
He has not looked back since and is arguably the best left-back in the world right now. So, it is brilliant that Chelsea have been successful in agreeing a new and improved deal with him. At 27 years of age, he remains an important part of this project.