Marc Cucurella is gearing up for an emotionally charged encounter against his former club, Barcelona, as Chelsea prepares to face off in the UEFA Champions League. The full-back, who spent eight influential years in Barcelona’s youth system, reflects on his roots while emphasizing the thrill of playing during such significant Champions League nights, regardless of the rival.
Growing up in Catalonia, Cucurella’s earliest football memories were forged in the iconic Camp Nou, where he was captivated by Barcelona’s electric atmosphere. His journey through the club’s youth setup culminated in a stint with Barcelona B, before cucurella shifted to Getafe at 21 to expand his career horizons, eventually landing in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea.
While his time with Barcelona is behind him, Cucurella acknowledges the weight of the upcoming match. “It’s a very special game for my family and me,” he said, drawing on personal memories. He views this opportunity to compete at such a high level positively, attributing his current form and confidence to playing for a talented Chelsea squad.
Cucurella is enthusiastic about facing Barcelona again, having competed against them years ago. He reiterated the importance of the match: “Chelsea against Barcelona is always a very good game. Hopefully tomorrow we can have a good game and win the three points.”
This game marks the start of a crucial week for Chelsea, who will also take on league leaders Arsenal shortly after. Despite the importance of these fixtures, Cucurella remains grounded. “It’s a big week, but we need to keep in mind that these are just three points, even in big matches,” he reflected. “Winning will boost our confidence, but we are still in November, and we must keep our focus on the long road ahead.”
He acknowledged the progress that Chelsea has made since the beginning of the Champions League campaign, particularly since their opening defeat against Bayern Munich. Cucurella noted how the team has become more composed and mature, learning from previous experiences to improve week by week.
His analysis of the squad’s development emphasizes a desire for consistent performances: “We need to stay at our best level if we want to compete for big things,” he asserted. Cucurella’s insight underlines the promising trajectory of Chelsea as they seek to build on their recent successes and remain in contention in both the Champions League and Premier League.
As Cucurella prepares for this pivotal clash, there is a sense of hope and determination in his words, reflecting the potential for Chelsea to make significant strides this season.