10 February 2023 , 16:13
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Chelsea boss Graham Potter is adamant that Todd Boehly’s recent social media activity doesn’t indicate he has lost faith in Marc Cucurella.
The Spanish defender was part of Boehly’s record-breaking spree to start his Stamford Bridge tenure, arriving from Brighton in a deal in excess of £60million. Cucurella signed during the American’s first window as owner and before Potter followed him from the Amex Stadium to west London.
But the 24-year-old has thus far failed to justify the investment Chelsea put forward for him, struggling for form under both Thomas Tuchel and now Potter. There has been a growing clamour for the left-back to be taken out of the firing line, particularly with the return to fitness of Ben Chilwell.
And the scrutiny over his place in the starting lineup was only intensified after Boehly appeared to ‘like’ a tweet criticising Cucurella. But ahead of Chelsea’s trip to West Ham Potter has insisted that the player retains the full support of everybody at the club and their focus is on him getting back to his usual standards.
“I can’t comment. It’s nothing that I would say is a reflection of Todd in any way, but I don't know how social media works,” Potter said in his pre-match press conference.
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“Everybody here is very supportive of Marc and we’re trying to help him get back to the level that he can get to and enjoy his football. If a player can enjoy their football, chances are that they will play well.”
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly had liked a tweet criticising Marc Cucurella (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)Reports have recently emerged that the ex-Seagulls star is dealing with a private, personal matter. Potter understandably didn’t expand on that situation, but he did offer all of his players his full support.
“They are human beings and have private lives, Marc isn’t the only one,” Potter added. “You understand the supporters [on their criticism of Cucurella], they pay the money. But you have to deal with stuff. He’s fine, he’s going about his work, he knows he’s not in the best moment of form.”
Boehly’s Twitter activity comes hot on the heels of a scathing review from Blues legend Frank Leboeuf, who in no uncertain terms claimed Cucurella shouldn’t be playing for his former side.
Graham Potter has said Chelsea are committed to getting the best out of the struggling Cucurella (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)"Hopefully Reece James and Ben Chilwell will go back into fitness as soon as possible because we need them,” Leboeuf told ESPN: “We don't want to see Cucurella anymore. With all due respect to a man that I don't know, the player is not good enough for Chelsea.
“It's as simple as that. It's crazy that they signed him for £60m or £70m, but we can see that he doesn't belong to this level."
He added: "People are going to think I don't like him - it's not the case. It's just I think Cucurella has only played for Getafe and Brighton, and £65m for a player who's 24, played like 30 or 40 games in the Premier League, I think it's a lot. I think the world of football is getting crazy."