Chelsea supporters have claimed that there is 'no excuse' to not replace Marc Cucurella with Ian Maatsen next season following the Spaniard's costly mistake against Real Madrid. Despite the Blues' best efforts, Carlo Ancelotti's side finally broke the deadlock at Stamford Bridge just moments before the hour-mark.
Initially, Trevoh Chalobah looked to be at fault for the opener after he misjudged a tackle on Rodrygo. The Brazil international skipped past the flailing defender, found Vincius Junior unmarked at the back post before receiving a return pass and smashing the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
However, in the build-up, Cucurella was spotted quite considerably out of position, leaving Chalobah vulnerable at the back. The left-back was seen leading a solo high-press on Eder Militao – and, once Chelsea supporters realised he was at fault, large sections of the fanbase demanded that he is offloaded in the summer and replaced by Maatsen.
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The Cobham graduate, who has been on loan at Burnley this season, has featured 35 times for Vincent Kompany's side in the Championship this season, directly contributing towards ten goals. Maatsen's eye-catching performances have guided the Clarets to promotion back into the Premier League, making him an attractive option in the Chelsea squad upon his return in the summer.
Speaking to Sky Sports in January, Kompany heaped great praise on the Dutchman. The 37-year-old said: "Ian is doing exactly what he needs to be doing. With his stature he's not making the game about what the other players want, it's about what he has in terms of his skill and tools.
"He's part of such a very strong list of players who have done really well for us this season. The ingredients are always the same.
"He's got to be coachable in a sense that when he's not doing well we've got to be able to tell him and eventually learn from his mistakes. He's got to be willing to work hard, he does that terrifically, and get better.
"He's just turning into something that we expected him to be able to become. He's a very, very versatile full-back with lots of energy and great potential."
With Maatsen attracting attention for all the right reasons, football.london has taken a look at some of the reaction to Cucurella's costly mistake against Real Madrid.
@ZachLowy tweeted: "Marc Cucurella stepping up to press Real Madrid’s defense and leaving Rodrygo with acres of space is the only thing more inexcusable than his squandered chance last night. It truly has been a nightmare campaign for him — no excuse to not bring Ian Maatsen back for competition."
@mikewilliams992 tweeted: "Ben Chilwell is a far better player! The whole purchase of Cucurella just seemed strange and it was £60m that could have been used towards a striker last summer."
@ChicagoDmitry tweeted: "Also I can't believe Chalobah is being slated for trying and missing a desperation lunge on a guy he had to spring 50 yards to close down because Cucurella wondered off to Polynesia."
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