Long after full-time, once Stamford Bridge had emptied to leave only the cleaners in the stands, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart emerged from the tunnel full of smiles after one of their regular visits to the Chelsea changing room.
The dual sporting directors have reason to hope that their signings are showcasing their worth in time to secure European football – from Noni Madueke to Moises Caicedo to Nicolas Jackson – though they cannot claim credit for one of the catalysts in this upturn in form.
That is Marc Cucurella, the left back now moving into midfield and showing why Pep Guardiola wanted to sign him for Manchester City before Chelsea paid Brighton £55million plus £7m.
Cucurella was signed in August 2022 before the arrivals of Winstanley and Stewart, but the 25-year-old is in the midst of a satisfying redemption arc at Stamford Bridge.
His first start of the season was in the Carabao Cup against League Two Wimbledon – a 2-1 win in which his name was booed while Manchester United were being linked with a loan swoop.
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella is enjoying a satisfying redemption at Stamford Bridge
Cucurella’s touch map in the first-half against Villa (L) and second-half after tactical switch
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Now, he is as valuable as anyone in Mauricio Pochettino’s late push for Europe – one of those who would constitute a ‘blow’ if he suddenly appeared on the club’s unpredictable injury list after his contributions to the 2-0 and 5-0 wins over Tottenham and West Ham.
When Chelsea are in possession, Cucurella moves into midfield alongside Moises Caicedo, a manoeuvre which enables Conor Gallagher to push further up the pitch into the No 10 position he has grown used to occupying.
Gallagher’s presence in turn gives Cole Palmer the licence to roam, usually towards the right-hand side where he has been at his best.
It is a new tactical tweak from Pochettino, with Cucurella having previously acted as more of a typical wide man when starting in the Premier League.
Insiders say this is a switch the manager has been considering for some time, even practising it in 11-v-11 training sessions at Cobham, but it was at half-time in the trip to Aston Villa less than two weeks ago that Pochettino decided to properly test it.
In the first half at Villa Park, Cucurella stayed tied to the left-hand side as Chelsea found themselves trailing 2-0. In the second half, Pochettino decided to go for it, telling his left back to play much more central as the visitors came back to draw 2-2.
We have seen Chelsea managers make tactical changes midway through matches previously, most notably Antonio Conte and his 3-4-3 set-up at half-time of a 3-0 loss to Arsenal which eventually won them the Premier League.
Whether you like him or not, Pochettino deserves credit for this tweak which has given the club a chance at a strong finish to the season.
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has told his left back to play much more central
Cucurella’s touch map against West Ham (L) and average Chelsea positions during the match
Since that draw at Villa, Chelsea have beaten Tottenham, wiped the floor with West Ham, and now face a trip to Nottingham Forest this Saturday in which Cucurella is likely to continue his inverted forays to partner Caicedo while Enzo Fernandez recovers from surgery.
Cucurella is performing as well as we have seen him in a Chelsea shirt and insiders are delighted for him, one saying that he is often cited by team-mates as the ‘funniest’ in the changing room.
That likability is why those around him want him to become much more loved by the club’s outsiders. Continue to perform as impressively as this and he will soon earn that praise.
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