“Need to learn…” – Cucurella teaching young Chelsea players how to walk the red card tightrope | OneFootball

Marc Cucurella has been speaking to the press after an important win for Chelsea in midweek.

The Blues beat Benfica but were reduced to ten men for the third time in the last four games.

Cucurella tries to teach young players the art of getting away with it

Marc Cucurella battles Anthony. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Despite being a front foot, aggressive defender and a true wind up merchant who is a master of getting under the skin of opposition players, Cucurella has been sent off just once in his career. He spoke a little about how damaging it was to a team to be reduced to ten:

“We need to learn that with 10 men we can suffer. The last game against Brighton, we played the last 40 minutes with 10 men and then we lost the game.

“I try to give my experience to the team and help the young lads. When I arrived here, I suffered tough moments but it became better. That’s football, you have to suffer the tough moments because the good moments always arrive.”

Cucurella backs Garnacho to succeed

One player who managed to impress in the Benfica game was Alejandro Garnacho. As Cucurella pointed out, the winger has missed out on chances to play because of the red cards, and may finally now get a chance to shine:

“He is a very important player with a lot of qualities. It is true in the league that we have had 10 men a lot and it is difficult to put on a winger because we have been mostly defending.

“I think [against Benfica] he had an opportunity and showed his level and that he can help the team. He had a really good game and I hope he can do it again on Saturday [at home to Liverpool].”