Chelsea coach, Liam Rosenior, has confirmed that one of the team's key players, Marc Cucurella, is currently dealing with a hamstring problem. Unfortunately, no specific time frame has been given for his return to the field. This news comes after Cucurella was forced to leave at half-time during the midweek draw against Leeds due to injury.
The Spanish left-back also missed Friday’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Hull City due to this issue. Despite his absence, Chelsea managed an impressive 4-0 victory over Hull City and advanced to the fifth round of the tournament. Jorrel Hato filled in for Cucurella at left back during this match. Chelsea is anxiously awaiting results from scans that will determine how severe Cucurella’s injury is and estimate how long he might be sidelined. The 27-year-old player has made significant contributions this season with 35 appearances in all competitions.
Rosenior provided an update after the game against Hull which hinted towards some concern about Cucurella's condition. In light of these circumstances, it seems likely that Hato will continue filling in for him and get more opportunities on-field.
Chelsea coach, Liam Rosenior, said:
“Yes, at the moment he’s not fit,”
“There’s an issue with his hamstring. I don’t know. I can’t give you a time frame on it at the moment.”
World Cup implications
The situation isn't just causing worry within Chelsea but also within Spain's football federation as they are concerned about their upcoming World Cup campaign this summer where Cucurella is expected to play a crucial role.
In addition to Cucurella’s absence from recent matches, another player who missed out on Chelsea’s win over Hull was Cole Palmer. However unlike his teammate, Palmer wasn’t absent due to injury. Rosenior clarified that Palmer's absence was a result of managing his playing time.
The uncertainty surrounding Cucurella’s injury and return date is undoubtedly causing some anxiety for both Chelsea and the Spanish Football Federation. As they await further updates, fans will be hoping for a speedy recovery for one of Chelsea's most important players. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how Jorrel Hato takes advantage of this opportunity to showcase his skills in the upcoming matches.
