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Chelsea star Marc Cucurella has spoken very openly about the problems at the club, blaming transfer strategy and managerial changes for a downturn in form.
It may be still mathematically possible for Chelsea to land a top five finish in the Premier League this season and compete in the Champions League again next term, but the Blues are not looking as strong as they were just a few months ago.
Marc Cucurella thinks sacking Enzo Maresca in the middle of the season was the wrong decision for Chelsea
Chelsea made the surprise decision to relieve Enzo Maresca of his duties in January, despite him leading the Blues to the Club World Cup title in the summer and having them on course for a top-four place this season.
Maresca wasn't happy with his sacking, naturally, and it seems Marc Cucurella feels the same way.
In an interview with The Athletic during the international break, the Spaniard insisted that, while his new manager Liam Rosenior is "a very good person", letting Maresca go during the middle of the season is not something he would have done.
He said: "The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us. These are decisions taken by the club. If you asked me, I would not have made this decision.
"The best thing is to wait until the end of the season. You would give everyone, the players and the new manager, time to get ready, have a full pre-season.
"The instability around the club comes from this, in a nutshell. We had a caretaker first, then a new manager, with new ideas and no time to work on them. It is what it is."
Chelsea have now lost their last four matches in all competitions under Rosenior, but Cucurella doesn't think the manager is the only issue.
The 27-year-old suggests Chelsea's preference for signing young players has destabilised their efforts to move forward and compete at the very top.
On that, he added: "I understand this is part of the club’s policy, and that they want to take this direction – signing young players and looking to the future. But, for all of us who are still here and want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged.
"We have a good core of players. The foundations are there. But to fight for major trophies such as the Premier League or the Champions League, you need more.
"You need time as well, and I know the young players are the ones that will have the experience in the future. But you need to find the balance between both worlds."
There's now a chance that Cucurella, ranked at no.9 in FourFourTwo's list of the best left-backs in the world right now, could leave Chelsea.
He's been linked with Barcelona, and when asked about that speculation, simply said: "It would be difficult to refuse. It's not just about me. I'd have to think about my family. If it happens, it happens, and we'll see what decision is made."
Cucurella is valued at €50m according to Transfermarkt. Chelsea's next game sees them Port Vale in the quarter final of the FA Cup on April 4.
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