Chelsea star has been named as a scapegoat for problems this season
Graham Potter believes that Marc Cucurella is being unjustly held responsible for Chelsea’s dismal season.
Cucurella joined the Blues from Brighton in a move valued at close to £60 million during the summer transfer window, but he has struggled to recreate his stellar form from the previous campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Ben Chilwell’s injury has forced Potter to rely on the Spaniard this season, but Chelsea supporters have voiced their displeasure with his ongoing problems.
In last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United, Cucurella was substituted, to the delight of Chelsea’s traveling fans.
Mykhailo Mudryk’s Instagram account also liked a meme ridiculing the left-back after that performance, and Potter later stated that there is “nothing nasty” between the teammates.
Cucurella was also jeered during Wednesday’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, and Chelsea’s manager believes his player is being used as a scapegoat for the club’s broader issues.
Ahead of Saturday’s match against Southampton, Potter told a press conference, ‘The results that we are having and where we are in the table mean that somebody is going to face the brunt of the criticism.’ “This is the pattern.” And whether it is fair or not is irrelevant.
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As professionals, we must accept this and exert maximum effort to influence public opinion. Indeed, this is the difficulty we face. I refuse to argue against it. Marc is an adult with children, so he is familiar with the situation. We must assist him in changing his perspective on this.
‘There is always frustration and we have to accept the frustration with me, frustration at players, it’s part of what we have to accept in this position.
‘There is no magic formula. It’s not easy to play with that type of pressure. All he can do is keep doing well in training, keep working hard, wait for the right opportunity.
‘We are not losing because of one individual, one person. We are a team and we need to stick together.’
Manchester City were eager to sign Cucurella in the summer transfer window, eventually ending their interest due to Brighton’s demands.
‘In the summer Chelsea weren’t the only team that wanted to buy him and the other team (Manchester City) that wanted to buy him are quite good!’ Potter continued.
‘Yes he has (the mentality to cope with the situation). The team that was interested in him, they wouldn’t be if he didn’t have the character he has.’
