Had this been a Broadway performance, Marc Cucurella would be the one running on stage in the middle of a scene to ensure the lights do not go off. During a match with Benfica in the group stage of the Champions League, the Spaniard did not go to play, he possessed the scene. His industriousness, defensive instincts and an unexpected goal-attack burst won Chelsea that tight victory by the single goal and brought him the Player of the Month award.
Marc Cucurella sets the tone
From the opening whistle, Cucurella gave Benfica’s attackers as much personal space as a helicopter parent on prom night—none. He pressed, tackled, and harried his way to five tackles and seven duels won. Add in a couple of chances created and some neat link-ups with Alejandro Garnacho, and suddenly the left flank felt less like a danger zone and more like a gated community.
Marc Cucurella leaves pundits buzzing
According to sources, some pundits thought Moises Caicedo or Pedro Neto deserved the award, but Ally McCoist was having none of it. His commentary praised Cucurella’s relentless energy, likening him to a fly you just can’t swat away. The message was clear: Chelsea’s defense doesn’t survive that Benfica onslaught without him digging in late.
Marc Cucurella and the author’s take
Here’s where I weigh in: I like my defenders the way I like my Wi-Fi—fast, reliable, and capable of saving me when I’m in trouble. Cucurella checked all those boxes. He wasn’t flawless—he struggled in the Bayern opener—but this was the kind of redemption arc fans eat up. He’s not just a stopgap anymore; he’s one of Maresca’s go-to lieutenants.
Cucurella looks ahead
Liverpool looms next, and yes, that means a rematch with Mohamed Salah. Last time, Cucurella kept him relatively quiet. This time, it’s for higher stakes, with Chelsea clawing for Champions League relevance. If he can repeat this Benfica performance, Chelsea fans might just start engraving his name on every Player of the Match trophy in advance.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
