Chelsea manager Maresca hails Cucurella as ‘clever and intelligent’ following standout performance in victory

Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, has lauded defender Marc Cucurella as a remarkable talent following his standout performance against Leicester City.

The Blues claimed a 1-0 victory over the Foxes thanks to Cucurella’s precise strike from outside the penalty area, marking his fifth goal since mid-December. This latest win propelled Maresca’s team back into the top four, and he had high praise for the 26-year-old, who has been crucial this season.

“Marc possesses a quality that’s hard to come by,” Maresca said.

“He’s astute and shows great intelligence on the pitch. He netted two goals against Wolves and Brentford, and despite being one of the smaller players in the squad, his positioning reflects his keen footballing mind.”

“He’s playing like an attacking midfielder and is doing brilliantly. He’s scored four or five goals for us.”

Cucurella will be eager to make his mark in the Conference League on Thursday evening as Chelsea set out to secure their progression against FC Kobenhavn in West London.

Maresca may look to rotate his squad in a manner similar to the first leg, but after a hard-fought 2-1 win previously, players like Cucurella might get the opportunity to help drive the club closer to the next round and ultimately, the final.