There’s an old saying that players are never as “good” as when they’re not in the team, and that was taken to new levels by Marc Cucurella this summer.
Usually it refers to players who are injured or unavailable, and gradually become like mythical beasts, ready to solve all the team’s woes when they’re fit again. But in this case, it’s all about Cucurella’s time with Spain and subsequent holiday.
He had started impressing more and more through last season, looking really impressive when he was told to play inside by Mauricio Pochettino. It went to a new level at the Euros, and he looked a player reborn and one of the start of the tournament after being surprisingly chosen ahead of Alex Grimaldo to be their starting left back.
That, followed by a long holiday during which the team has struggled desperately in defensive areas, has served to make him the poster boy for the phenomenon mentioned above. When he’s not there in front of us, we remember that good things he brings and forget the bad.
One step away from return
Still, there’s not long left to wait now. Cucurella returned to training today after his extended break, and will presumably be in line to play some minutes in the game against Man City next weekend. Sunday’s match against Inter surely comes too soon, unless he’s been doing some secret fitness work without the cameras seeing.
It will be interesting to see if manager Enzo Maresca can make him into the game-changing player that he’s been built up to be in our minds. It’s a lot to ask, but he has shown great propensity to do the exact things Maresca is likely to ask of him, so while we’re not getting carried away, we’re hopeful he will be able to pick things up quickly.