Chelsea star struggling with family issues and going through ‘difficult’ time at Chelsea
Graham Potter, the manager of Chelsea, disclosed that Marc Cucurella has experienced “difficult” times since joining the Blues.
Cucurella arrived in the summer from Brighton for £62 million.
However, he has struggled to find good form amid Chelsea’s struggles.
Recent games have seen the Spaniard replaced in the starting lineup by Cobham graduate Lewis Hall.
Potter, who worked with Cucurella at Brighton, was questioned regarding his position in the team and whether he was falling in the pecking order.
He responded, “Not necessarily.
“With some players there’s some dips in form, and there are different solutions, different options in the game.
“Lewis Hall has done well. We have to manage his games and his role because he’s a young player just starting out.
“Marc had a lot to deal with in terms of how you settle into a team, how you settle into a club, into a new group. I think it’s been challenging for him.”
In addition to his struggles on the field, however, Potter revealed that the defender was also dealing with family issues.
He added: “Family-wise that has been difficult for him as well. So there’s many factors.
“Sometimes it’s simplistic. You just see the guy on the pitch and you have a verdict on him, but there’s all sorts of things going on in his life.
“Obviously I know Marc well. I know Marc at his best and he is a top player.”
Cucurella’s caliber has already been demonstrated in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old won Player of the Year for Brighton after an outstanding season.
Prior to his departure, Brighton reportedly viewed him as a more talented player than Ben White, who was sold to Arsenal the previous season.
However, this revelation highlights a pressing issue for many football players, namely that mental health is essential for optimal performance on the field.
Similarly, Erik ten Hag has kept Jadon Sancho out of the spotlight at Manchester United due to a “drop” in his physical and mental levels.
During his darkest days at Old Trafford, former Manchester United star Jesse Lingard revealed he turned to alcohol to “take the pain away.”
Cucurella’s struggles are likely to keep him on the bench for Saturday’s early match between Chelsea and Liverpool.
The teams are tied on points and will be desperate to maintain their position in the top four.
Both teams are ten points behind fourth-place Newcastle.
Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace ended a streak of ten league games without a victory, while Liverpool seeks to avoid a third consecutive league loss.
Chelsea star struggling with family issues and going through ‘difficult’ time at Chelsea
