Guard of Honour Set, But Chelsea Plot Shock Win | OneFootball

Stamford Bridge Set for Liverpool Celebration — But Cucurella Eyes Statement Win

As Liverpool prepare to walk out at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with a guard of honour in recognition of their Premier League triumph, Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has other plans in mind.

While the Blues will duly acknowledge the newly-crowned champions under Arne Slot, the Spanish full-back is keen to remind the league that Chelsea are building something of their own — and that their ambitions go beyond simply applauding others.

“We try to fight with everything and fight for the three points,” Cucurella said. “It’s what we are fighting for and what we are trying to do. It’s a process.”

Chelsea’s Turn to Send Shockwaves?

The match will be the first stop on Liverpool’s end-of-season parade after they sealed a record-equalling 20th English league title. Anfield erupted last weekend during their emphatic 5-1 victory over Tottenham, Alexis Mac Allister’s goal sparking celebrations so intense they reportedly registered a 1.74 magnitude tremor on the Richter scale.

But Cucurella, 26, believes Chelsea can administer their own aftershock on Merseyside’s champions. “Hopefully we can have this (honour) as well in the next few years,” he noted, expressing envy at the accolade but optimism for Chelsea’s trajectory under Mauricio Pochettino.

The left-back added, “If we need to do it (a guard of honour), we do it. But once the game starts, we go for our objectives.”

A Personal Revival and a Club Rebuilding

Having joined from Brighton in a £60 million move during Chelsea’s well-documented £1.5 billion spending spree, Cucurella’s first season at Stamford Bridge was fraught with challenges. However, a breakout campaign has transformed his reputation. With six goals and a string of consistent performances, he is now in contention for Chelsea’s Player of the Season.

“When I joined here it was tough,” he admitted. “It was my first season and I tried to work hard, not say anything, work in silence. It was not easy, but now I feel very good and I feel very proud.”

Now a fan favourite — not least because of a terrace chant referencing both his iconic hairstyle and a rumoured fondness for Spanish beer — Cucurella insists the latter is not quite accurate.

“To be fair, I don’t like Estrella, I don’t like beer, I don’t like wine,” he laughed. “For me, as a Spanish person it’s strange, but it’s the truth… I only like vodka.”

Guard of Honour is a Symbol, But Chelsea’s Goals Are Tangible

Cucurella’s reflections reveal a broader message — Chelsea are not content being part of the supporting cast. The team is beginning to show signs of cohesion after a turbulent spell, and players like Cucurella are emblematic of that steady progress.

“When I joined this club I wanted to fight for trophies, fight for big things and after a tough season I think this one was a bit more regular,” he said. “We showed our level, we started to create something important and now it’s in our hands.”

Sunday’s guard of honour will belong to Liverpool, but Chelsea — and Marc Cucurella — are determined to reclaim centre stage soon.