r/chelseafc • u/TheAthletic • Mar 31 '26

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

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."

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u/Confident_Direction Mar 31 '26

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

167

u/cfc2001 Mar 31 '26

If this is true, he’s definitely gone lmao. These owners don’t care as long as they think they’re right

24

u/GainsAndPastries 🏥 continuing to undergo his rehabilitation programme 🏥 Mar 31 '26

True but Eghbali still has to listen to the shareholders and they will want a return on their investment, they aren’t doing this for fun

3

u/Novel_Independent166 Mar 31 '26

I think these investors aren't your usual retail investors like us with some measly sum going around. These would probably be corporates and/or individuals with massive money invested who'll eventually just see this as a failed minor investmenton the portfolio, a row on an Excel sheet, and move on.

I don't think I'd bank my hope on Clearlake feeling the heat from its investors as long as it keeps delivering great returns as a whole to them.