Marc Cucurella interview: Chelsea star says Europe is still possible but they need to stop being 'irregular'

Marc Cucurella says Chelsea need to follow up the spectacular 4-3 win over Manchester United with another three points at Sheffield United to keep hopes of securing European football alive. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have become incredibly unpredictable, capable of beating any team, as evidenced by their win against Manchester United, but also with the frustrating tendency to lose or drop points to teams like Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Burnley. 

A defeat at home to United would have turned the pressure valves on Pochettino and possibly left them with the FA Cup semi-final game against Manchester City to look forward to, but instead, the win has relaunched their campaign and defender Cucurella wants them to seize the opportunity. 

He told LondonWorld: “I think it's in our hands (securing European football). We need to win all the games and stay more stable. We are a little bit of an irregular team but we need to be stable and win every week. 

“We have an important game on Sunday because if we don't win then the three points (against United) is for nothing. We need to be focused and keep this mood.”

Every great team has special players, Chelsea are not a great team yet, but they have every potential to be one. They are a squad full of promise but none has stood taller than Cole Palmer. The former Manchester City man has taken to life in west London as a duck to water.

He’s made a better start to his Chelsea career than the great Eden Hazard. He’s been involved in 24 Premier League goals for Chelsea this season, scoring 16 and assisting eight. Only Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink had more in his first season at the club. Cucurella who describes him as a special player wants him to keep his level and help the team win something important.

He added: “He is a different player with a lot of qualities. A special player, when he feels confident he shows a lot of qualities and he is an important player for us. He needs to maintain this level and we need to maintain this in the remaining games to win something good.

One of the reasons Chelsea are 9th on the league table has been injuries. Club captain Reece James hasn't kicked a ball this year having been forced into surgery last year. Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana won’t work on the grass again this campaign, and there is no time frame to when French striker Christopher Nkunku will return after his latest setback. The fourth injury blow he’s had since he joined the club in the summer.

Cucurella himself had to miss 77 days due to ankle surgery, but he’s bounced back so well. Scored his first Chelsea goal last month, and reduced the blow of losing Ben Chiwell to different kinds of injuries. He admits he’s had to take a long journey back, but feels very good at the moment. 

The Spanish defender concluded: “For sure it's not an easy season, I was a lot of the time injured and I needed a long process to be back and I tried to do my best. Worked hard and now I have the possibility to play these games and I’m very happy and feel very good.”