Jamie Carragher has fiercely criticized Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella, calling his performance against Tottenham “embarrassing” after the Spaniard’s double error led to Chelsea trailing 2-0 within the first 11 minutes.
Also Read: Andre Villas-Boas Cautions Chelsea and Manchester City Over FIFA Club World Cup Prize Money
Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke opened the scoring before Dejan Kulusevski doubled the lead, capitalizing on a slip from Cucurella. The Spaniard compounded his poor showing by running to the bench to change his boots immediately after Kulusevski’s goal, a move that further angered Carragher.
Speaking during Sky Sports commentary, Carragher didn’t mince his words: “Cucurella’s coming to the bench – don’t blame anyone else, son! Absolute schoolboy stuff. Embarrassing. He slips again. Did he not do a warm-up?”
BBC pundit Clinton Morrison echoed Carragher’s sentiments, adding, “Cucurella is blaming his boots. Look at yourself, you’re the professional. Kulusevski, though, that’s a brilliant finish.”
Cucurella, who joined Chelsea in a £60m deal from Brighton in 2022, endured a rocky start at Stamford Bridge but has shown improvement this season under head coach Enzo Maresca. Despite his turnaround, the 26-year-old remains under intense scrutiny due to his hefty price tag and early struggles at the club.
Reflecting on past criticism, Cucurella admitted in an interview with The Guardian: “People see the price and think you’re a machine, scoring 50 goals and providing 50 assists. That’s business between clubs; it’s nothing to do with me.”
Chelsea fans will be hoping Cucurella can quickly recover his form, especially as the team aims to stabilize its performances under Maresca’s guidance.
