£175k-a-week Chelsea player has to be the first name on the teamsheet now to face Manchester City

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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca got one final look at his squad this weekend before they kick off their Premier League season in a week’s time.

The Blues drew 1-1 with Serie A Champions Inter Milan, with a late goal from Lesley Ugochukwu rounding up an impressive cameo from him.

Maresca will have been looking to play a side who was similar to the one he will name at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, however some of his top players played their part from the bench.

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This included Cole Palmer, who missed the tour of the United States due to his extended spell with England at the European Championships.

Another player who didn’t make the trip was Marc Cucurella, however the Spaniard was named in the starting side despite hardly training under the new boss.

Marc Cucurella first name on the teamsheet vs Manchester City

While the full-back didn’t really play the inverted role many expected of him, he was able to play the left centre-back role with an easy that no one had managed across the pond.

This allowed Levi Colwill to start as the central defender, and have one of his better performances of pre-season as a result.

Some of Cucurella’s better performances in his debut season at Chelsea came as a central defender in a back three, and although the system differs now he is still showing he can operate there.

In his presence, Malo Gusto seemed to play the more inverted role, something he has proven in pre-season he is more than capable of doing.

Malo Gusto to start the season for Chelsea

The Frenchman will likely start the opening games of the season, after Reece James’ suspension and recent injury woes too.

Whether this system will change when the club captain comes back remains to be seen, but Cucurella has proven he has to be the first name on the teamsheet when City come to town next weekend.

With the defender on the higher end of the wage structure at Chelsea with his £175k-a-week deal, a big season is needed to back up his brilliance on the international stage this summer.