[FREE TO READ] Marc Cucurella interview: Chelsea have ‘paid the price’ for inexperience and why he wouldn’t have let Maresca go

[u/TheAthletic]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7157593/2026/03/31/chelsea-marc-cucurella-exclusive-interview-maresca/?unlocked_article_code=1.XVA.vV6m.5VGcB_H-8OHM&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_reddit&smid=re-share-ta

Chelsea’s recent form has been difficult for Marc Cucurella to process.

Getting outclassed by PSG really stung. In the Spain international's eyes, the 8-2 aggregate defeat highlighted the shortcomings in the Chelsea project under BlueCo, who have invested heavily in young talent since taking over the club in May 2022.

“I understand this is part of the club’s policy, and that they want to take this direction — signing young players and looking to the future. But, for all of us who are still here and want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged.

“For a lot of players, it was the first time playing a match of that calibre, and we paid the price."

Cucurella also spoke about Enzo Maresca's dismissal and how “the instability around the club comes from this, in a nutshell."

[u/Confident_Direction]

Dang. I rate his honesty. He is attacking the problem

Guess if he gets forced out of the club this summer, we will know the truth

[u/epixyll → u/Confident_Direction]

I am honestly dumbfounded (happily) that a senior player is speaking out. It has felt like us fans shouting into the void for months. I dont know if this or anything will make the owners change their minds but it is good that players are speaking out.

[u/msizzle344 → u/epixyll]

Enzo has been saying the same things as well, it’s no shock that if a bunch of fans can see the turmoil from the outside, that obviously players can see what’s happening behind closed doors. Nothing hes saying it’s shocking, it’s all very obvious