Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella has told The Sun that his time in Abu Dhabi has left him really excited for the rest of the season.
The Blues have recently spent a week in warm weather training ahead of the new Premier League season, culminating with a friendly against Aston Villa.
While the game had positives regarding the youngsters at the club, the ACL injury suffered by Armando Broja overshadowed the experience.
Nevertheless, Blues players will have enjoyed more time to work under the new manager after he was thrown into a hectic schedule at Stamford Bridge.
Cucurella has claimed the camp in Abu Dhabi has left him ecstatic for the remainder of the club season.
He said: “All of it is a process. The first season with Graham in Brighton the results were not good, they stayed down in the table.
Cucurella excited for season
“They continued with the same ideas, working, working and working. Then, last season and this season they played really good with the same ideas.
“We need to work and understand his ideas and the results will arrive. It is difficult because it is a new coach with different ideas and it is difficult to change without the time to train.
“This part of the season we have time, we meet more and know the ideas of the coach. This second part of the season, I am excited for.”
Cucurella will likely be involved in a fierce battle with teammate Ben Chilwell for the starting role on the left of defence.
However, they may have Lewis Hall to deal with as competition, with him coming from nowhere to be a first team contender.
With Chilwell still on the return from injury though, the Spaniard will surely start when the Blues return to Premier League duties on December 27.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
