Chelsea face nervous wait over Marc Cucurella injury as defender sent for scans

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Evening Standard

·27 December 2025

Chelsea face nervous wait over Marc Cucurella injury as defender sent for scans

Defender asked to be substituted against Aston Villa

Chelsea face a nervous wait to learn the extent of a possible hamstring injury for Marc Cucurella.

The left-back asked to be substituted during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, playing 69 minutes before being replaced by Malo Gusto.

Cucurella is an ever-present in the Premier League for Chelsea this season, where he has played the full 90 minutes on all but four occasions for Enzo Maresca’s side.

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His understudy is centre-back Jorrel Hato, who can operate on the left flank, meaning there is a heavy burden on the Spaniard to play most of the minutes when he is fit.

But Cucurella is now set for scans on a possible injury, throwing his involvement against Bournemouth on Tuesday into significant doubt.

Asked why Cucurella came off, Maresca said: “Because he was complaining about his hamstring. We don’t know if it’s an injury now or not. He asked for the change.”

Another player taken off late on was Cole Palmer, who Maresca had said might play 90 minutes for the first time in more than three months.

Instead, he was replaced by Estevao Willian after 72 minutes against Villa.

Palmer was visibly frustrated at the decision, and slammed the seat in front of him as he sat down on the bench, having questioned the call to bring him off with coach Danny Walker.

“He was working very good,” said Maresca, who was serving a touchline ban, said of Palmer.

“[Palmer] was pressing on and off the ball. We have another game in 48 hours. Absolutely no [problem with his reaction].”