The experienced Chelsea defender has been very honest and outspoken about the club's decision to sack manager Enzo Maresca at the start of the year
Back on New Year's Day - what feels like a lifetime ago now - Chelsea made the decision to part company with manager Enzo Maresca after around 18 months at the helm.
The decision was publicly dressed up as mutual, and some media outlets even said that Maresca had made the decision to walk out himself. However, that always felt like the club saving face.
Well, that has indeed proved to be the case, as proven in a recent outspoken interview with The Athletic from Chelsea first team defender Marc Cucurella.
It's safe to say, the 27-year old did not mince his words, in the slightest: "We knew that Maresca wanted from us. Winning a title like the Club World Cup also helps, strengthens the bond, and you create great relationships during the celebrations. When a manager gives you that confidence and offers you a platform to fight for titles, you'd die for them.
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. To make a change like that, the best thing is to wait until the end of the season."
Meanwhile, the Spaniard offered his thoughts on current head coach, Liam Rosenior: "Liam is a very good person and has been great at handling the group, the characters. He likes to stay close to us and his football ideas are good, but we don't have time to train them.
We train on (by playing) competitive games, because we play every three days and that leaves you with no time on the training ground. In this context, it is normal that your plans sometimes don't work out, and then we go through difficult moments."
That said, he did seem to criticise Rosenior's approach against PSG in Paris, saying: "We made a mistake, tried to attack without a clear structure (at 3-2) and then PSG took the chance and proved they have that cutting edge."
Well, some very honest words all round from Cucurella. It is clear how unhappy he is about Maresca's departure, and you get the sense that he is far from the only player in that boat.
He also does make a fair point about Rosenior not getting much time on the training ground. Perhaps that is one good thing about the elimination from the Champions League, more time on the grass to get his ideas across.
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