Graham Potter has suggested Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella found it really difficult as the left-sided centre-back at Villa Park.
Chelsea continued recent momentum on Sunday by securing a 2-0 away win against Villa, which helped them strengthen fourth spot in the Premier League.
The Blues did find it difficult at times against a Villa side playing with real intensity, but there were two standout performers for the visitors. Described as “world class” by Potter, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mason Mount helped guide their side to three important league points.
Goalkeeper Kepa produced some heroics in net to remarkably keep yet another clean sheet. Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Mount scored both goals for his side to get his goalscoring tally off the mark for the season.
Cucurella found it difficult
Potter did admit after the Villa win that it didn’t work out as planned for Cucurella at centre-half.
The 24-year-old lined up on the left of a back three, but Chelsea’s entire backline were put under real pressure during the first-half.
Eventually, the Spanish defender was substituted off at half-time, along with Kai Havertz.
“If you look at where we were, Marc Cucurella was the left centre-back, which can work, but it didn’t work so much today,” Potter said.
It was a tough 45 minutes performance for Cucurella this afternoon, but plenty of his teammates were off the pace at Villa.
The left-footer has shown that he can work effectively in a back three, something he did under Potter at Brighton.
However, he’s looked a lot more comfortable in the early stages of his Chelsea career as a left-back or left wing-back.
With Ben Chilwell also an option in the Blues squad, Potter does have a bit of a headache when it comes to him and Cucurella operating together.
Keep up to date with all the latest Chelsea news and opinion by following The Chelsea Chronicle’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
