Marc Cucurella reveals freak virus and burglary contributed to ‘a NIGHTMARE start’ to his Chelsea career… as he lifts the lid on the reaction in the Blues dressing room to Mauricio Pochettino’s shock exit

Marc Cucurella has opened up about the struggles he has faced at Chelsea since his £62million move in 2022 and said Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from Stamford Bridge had come as a shock to the entire squad.

The 25-year-old will start for Spain against England in the Euro 2024 final after a stellar campaign for Luis de la Fuente’s side. The Spain manager raised eyebrows when he selected the left-back ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo after his stunning campaign in Germany.

But Cucurella has repaid his manager’s faith with a string of stunning performances that have seen Spain brush aside all challengers on their way to the climax in Berlin.

His performances in Germany are a far cry from what he has shown since swapping Brighton for the Blues in August 2022. And Cucurella has revealed his arrival in west London coincided with a series of personal issues which created a ‘perfect storm’ for his struggles.

‘The first two months I lived in a hotel with my family, but shortly after we found a place to live, our house was broken into,’ the defense attorney said. The Athletics‘Then I was in the hospital for two days with a virus. I lost a lot of weight and had to start all over again to get back in shape.

Chelsea paid £62million to sign the Spanish left-back from Brighton in August 2022

The 25-year-old has failed to live up to his price tag since moving to Stamford Bridge, although he did finish last season strongly

‘It wasn’t easy to come back. The team couldn’t find their way on the field either.’

He continued: ‘It was difficult to turn the tide. I worked very hard. I also suffered a lot for my family. That was the worst. I was a little afraid, at the moments when I was criticized, that if I went walking in the city with my family, someone would insult us.

“It never happened in a bad way, but I was a little bit wary of it. That was what worried me the most. At the end of the day, I think it’s part of football. You have to keep quiet and keep working.”

Cucurella’s full attention will undoubtedly be on Sunday’s match between Spain and England, but in his own west London the Enzo Maresca era has already begun, following the departure of Pochettino at the end of last season.

Under the Argentine, Cucurella – like many of his Blues team-mates – started the season poorly, but he did start each of Chelsea’s last 10 league games as they secured a top six finish.

Cucurella made 27 Premier League appearances in total and spoke about the influence of Pochettino, who he said had a tough job, and revealed that his sacking came as a shock to the entire squad.

‘[Pochettino] “I arrived at a club full of new players, and young players.” He said The Athletics. ‘I think we signed 14 and sold another 14. But we’re human and a football team doesn’t click overnight. It takes a lot of work.

Cucurella admitted that Mauricio Pochettino’s departure at the end of last season was a shock for everyone at the club

‘In the best moment we were in, we finished with six wins in a row and if there had been three more games, we would have won them. But he was sacked. It was a shock, an impact for everyone.

“Mainly because of the momentum. Ultimately, this is not up to us, the players. The owners made that decision.

‘For my part, I am grateful to Pochettino. In the preparation it was complicated. But little by little we understood each other, not only with the manager, but also with the staff. We discussed things, I understood what I had to do and in the end our relationship was great.’

Chelsea players returned to training last week to be greeted for the first time by their new manager following his arrival from Leicester. The former Manchester City assistant gave a rallying cry to supporters in his first interview as Blues manager.

He has already begun making changes to the playing staff, signing his old club Leicester City for midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for a reported £30m, as well as Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo and Renato Viega.

“Just trust the process, trust the idea and get behind the team,” Maresca told Chelsea’s media team.

New coach Enzo Maresca has welcomed non-international players ahead of the new campaign

He added: ‘We’re definitely going to enjoy the journey. As with any club, for any manager, it’s not going to be easy, because nothing is easy. But we’re definitely going to enjoy our journey.’

The Blues supporters have endured two turbulent years, finishing 12th and sixth respectively, during which time they have had three permanent managers, with brief spells under Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard.