Marc Cucurella reveals freak virus and burglary contributed to 'a NIGHTMARE start' to his Chelsea career... as he lifts the lid on the reaction in the Blues dressing room to Mauricio Pochettino's shock exit

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Marc Cucurella has opened up on his struggles at Chelsea since his £62million move in 2022 and revealed that Mauricio Pochettino's exit from Stamford Bridge was a shock to the entire squad. 

The 25-year-old is set to start for Spain against England in the final of Euro 2024 following a superb campaign for Luis de la Fuente's side. The Spain boss raised eyebrows in his selection of the left-back ahead of Bayer Leverkusen's Alex Grimaldo after his stunning season in Germany.

But Cucurella has repaid his manager's faith with a series of complete performances as Spain have brushed aside all challengers on their way to the Berlin showpiece. 

His displays in Germany have been a far cry from what he has shown since leaving Brighton for the Blues in August 2022. And Cucurella has revealed that his arrival in west London coincided with a number of personal issues that created a 'perfect storm' for his struggles. 

'I spent the first two months living in a hotel with my family, then soon after we found a place to live we had thieves breaking into our home.' The defender told The Athletic. 'After this, I spent two days hospitalised for a virus. I lost a lot of weight and had to start from scratch to get in shape again. 

Marc Cucurella (right) has excelled for Spain on their run to the European Championship final

Chelsea parted with £62million to bring the Spanish left-back from Brighton in August 2022

The 25-year-old has failed to live up to his price tag since moving to Stamford Bridge, although he did end the last campaign strongly

 'It wasn’t easy to come back. The team couldn’t find their way on the pitch, either.'

He continued: 'It’s been hard to turn the tables. I’ve worked very hard. I’ve suffered a lot for my family too. That’s been the worst thing. I was a bit scared, in the moments I was being criticised, that when going for a walk in the city with my family someone would insult us. 

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'It’s never happened in a bad way but I was a bit wary of that. That’s what made me worry the most. In the end this is part of football, I guess. You have to stay silent and keep working.'

Cucurella's undivided attention will undoubtedly be on Spain's clash against England on Sunday but back home in west London, the Enzo Maresca era has already begun, following the departure of Pochettino at the end of last season. 

Under the Argentine, Cucurella - like many of his Blues team-mates - began the season poorly but he started each of Chelsea's final 10 league games as they secured a top-six finish. 

In all, Cucurella made 27 Premier League appearances and he spoke on the influence of Pochettino, who he admitted did not have an easy job, and revealed his sacking came as a shock to the whole squad.    

'[Pochettino] arrived at a club full of new players, and young ones.' He told The Athletic. 'I think we signed 14 and sold another 14. But we are human beings and a football team does not click from one day to the next. A lot of work needs to be put in.

Cucurella admitted that Mauricio Pochettino's departure at the end of last season came as a shock to every at the club

'In the best moment we were in, we ended up with six wins in a row and if there had been three more games we would have won them. But he was sacked. It was a shock, an impact for everyone. 

'Mainly because of the momentum. In the end, this stuff is not on us, the players. The owners took that decision.

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'From my side, I’m thankful to Pochettino. In pre-season it was complicated. But little by little we understood each other, not just with the manager but with the backroom staff, too. We talked things through, I understood what I needed to do and our relationship in the end was great.'

Chelsea players returned to training last week where they were greeted by their new manager for the first time following his arrival from Leicester. The former Manchester City assistant issued a rallying cry to supporters in his first interview as Blues boss. 

He has already set about making changes to the playing staff, raiding his former club Leicester City by acquiring midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for a deal worth £30m, on top of bringing in Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo and Renato Viega.

‘Just trust the process, trust the idea, be behind the team,' Maresca told Chelsea's media team. 

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He added: 'For sure we are going to enjoy the journey. Like at every club, for every manager, it will not be easy because nothing is easy. But for sure we are going to enjoy our journey.’ 

Blues supporters have endured a tumultuous two years after witnessing, 12th and sixth-placed finishes, with three permanent bosses in that time, as well as a brief spells under Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard.