Not Palmer, not Caicedo, and certainly not the other expensive recruits. In Chelsea's opening match at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, the one who left the deepest impression was a name that was once more doubted than expected: Marc Cucurella.
The machine operates tirelessly
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC 2-0, Cucurella was more than just a left-back, he was… everything. He won the ball back, initiated attacks, coordinated central runs, broke through the wings, supported the press and even penetrated the penalty area as a true attacking midfielder. A performance that made viewers wonder: “Is Cucurella playing in three positions at once?”
In theory, Cucurella was deployed on the left of a back four. But in practice, he often drifted into the middle, forming a third man in Chelsea’s midfield alongside Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. It was this versatility that allowed Chelsea to create numerical superiority when transitioning the ball from the back – a key part of Enzo Maresca’s possession-based style.
Chelsea's opening goal was a testament to Cucurella's influence. He read the situation well, intercepted LAFC's pass, and initiated a quick counter-attack. The ball fell to Nicolas Jackson and, after a precise pass, Pedro Neto coolly finished. It was a neat, quick and sharp move - but it all started with the Spanish defender's alertness and boundless energy.
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Marc Cucurella makes his mark at the Club World Cup. |
Looking at Cucurella playing at this time, few people would think that this is the player who was considered a "bad" contract of Chelsea in the summer of 2022. Under the hands of Enzo Maresca, Cucurella has transformed into a modern, flexible player and... no longer limited to a purely defensive role. There were times in the match when he appeared alongside Cole Palmer in the role of a left-sided attacking midfielder. He dribbled, cut in, supported counter-attacks and even shot from a distance if there was space.
The statistics don't lie: 55/56 accurate passes, 4/5 successful duels, no dribbles, 1 successful dribble, 1 accurate sprint, played the full 90 minutes with high intensity and no decline.
With seven goals and three assists since the start of the season – more than any Chelsea player in 2025 – Cucurella is no longer just a left-back. He is the heart of the system, a player capable of influencing every move, no matter where he is on the pitch.
Former La Masia, current Chelsea
Interestingly, facing Cucurella on the LAFC side was Sergi Palencia, his old friend from La Masia (Barcelona). For the entire 90 minutes, Palencia could barely keep up with his compatriot - not only in terms of speed but also in terms of football thinking. At the end of the match, Palencia did not hesitate to ask to exchange shirts - as a way of recognizing Cucurella's current level.
If Chelsea continue to advance in the Club World Cup, Marc Cucurella will certainly be one of the irreplaceable pillars. No fanfare, no need for the spotlight, but what he is showing is a clear affirmation that: a left-back can also be the most important player on the pitch if he knows how to overcome the positional limitations.
And perhaps, Chelsea's journey in this tournament - if successful - will bear the strong mark of one name: Marc Cucurella.
Source: https://znews.vn/fifa-club-world-cup-2025-goi-ten-cucurella-post1561755.html
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