Reports from Spain have claimed that Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has been struggling with his recovery from illness.
According to AS, the left-back has lost up to five kilograms of weight whilst recovering from the tonsillitis that hospitalised him earlier this month.
The 24-year-old has been struggling to establish himself as the number one option to feature on the left of defence.
This has seen Graham Potter, who followed him over from Brighton try and use him as part of the back three.
This was the method used for Saturday’s draw with Manchester United, although not for long.
After being dominated for the opening half an hour, the Spaniard was replaced by Mateo Kovacic as Potter looked to adjust his system.
Cucurella struggling with illness
However, AS have now claimed that a string of poor performances could be put down to the illness he suffered, which left him in hospital for a week.
Cucurella has been challenging Ben Chilwell to the spot of left wing-back for the majority of this season. However, the England international is still getting back to full fitness after his season ending injury suffered about a year ago.
With the big fee the Blues spent on the defender this summer, they will surely have been hoping for a bit more than they have seen so far.
However, with his former manager now with him, who he worked so well with last season, he may be afforded time to work his way back to fitness due to Potter knowing just how much he can bring to the side.
Cucurella will still be in contention to feature in tomorrow’s Champions League fixture with RB Salzburg.
A win for the Blues will see them secure their place in the knockout stage of the competition, a fine achievement based on their start to the group.
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