Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has praised Marc Cucurella for his 'intelligence' after he netted the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
The Blues went into Friday's night fixture at Stamford Bridge with the opportunity to ensure that their Champions League fate remained in their own hands.
After United had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside call in the early stages, Cucurella netted a header with 19 minutes remaining, getting on the end of an exquisite Reece James cross.
As a result, Chelsea know that a win on the final weekend of the season at Nottingham Forest will guarantee Champions League football for 2025-26, although they may not sit in their current fourth position in the Premier League table come kickoff at the City Ground.
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'My kind of goal'
Even though Cucurella was one of the smallest players on the pitch, he netted what has become a trademark goal courtesy of his late arrival into the penalty area from an inverted left-back role.
When reflecting on the decisive goal, Maresca acknowledged that it was the type of goal that he enjoyed, praising the Spaniard for being able to put himself into goalscoring positions.
As quoted by football.london, the Italian said: "Very, very nice. The assist from the right full-back, the goal from the left full-back is the way I like to play.
"It's nice. I think Cucu already scored this season an exactly similar goal against Brentford, against Wolves. He's in the right position at the right moment, so it's not about how big you are, tall or small.
"Just to be in the right position at the right moment. Cucu is an intelligent player and he's helping us also with the goals."
Cucurella has now contributed five goals and one assist from his 32 appearances in the Premier League this season and arguably become one of the club's most important players.
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Cucurella redemption
There was a time when Cucurella was regularly criticised for failing to justify his £62m price-tag soon after his transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion, but he is now one of the standout left-backs in world football.
Maresca added: "Cucu has a background with the Barcelona academy, La Masia. He grew up in a club where the philosophy or the idea that I like is similar.
"So the reason why Cucu is doing so good with us is also because we know him, what he can do and the way we like to play is exactly the way that is good for him. So it's in both ways.
"We try to work day by day and I said before that it's not important how big you are or how small. It's important to understand where you have to be, the position, the moment and he's doing very well."
Chelsea must now wait until Nottingham Forest's game with West Ham United on Sunday and Manchester City's fixture with Bournemouth on Tuesday to see the exact permutations for the final Premier League weekend.
Darren Plant
