The ‘Cucu, Cucurella eats a paella, drinks a star, Haaland trembles that Cucurella is coming’ became one of the ‘hits’ of European champion Spain last summer.
The Spanish full-back performed the viral choreography popularized on TikTok by user @adrinavarromusic on the table with references to eating paella and drinking ‘Estrella’.
It became so viral that it even reached Haaland. The Norwegian, by the way, didn’t like him very much, who threw a ‘dart’ at him after scoring against Chelsea in Manchester City’s 2-0 victory: “He’s a funny man. Last season he asked me for the shirt… and this summer sing a song about me.”
He is a funny man. Last season he asked me for my shirt. And this summer sing a song about me…
Erling Haaland
The truth is that Cucurella has brought out, overcoming the distance, his ‘Haaland vein’: he has directly participated in five goals in the last nine games. There is more. We are in January and Chelsea’s ‘3’ has already equaled his highest scoring season. He has three goals in 24 games, the same ones he scored with Getafe -in 39 games- in 2020-21. He has also distributed three assists.
“He is making those around him better. Having five, six or seven players like Cucurella on a team is very important,” Enzo Maresca acknowledged at the beginning of the season.
He is making those around him better. Having five, six or seven players like Cucurella on a team is very important
Enzo Maresca
The ‘penguin’ Cucurella – his way of celebrating goals has also gone viral – celebrated his ‘centenary’ in the best possible way – he has made 65 appearances with Chelsea and 35 with Brighton – in the Premier: the Spanish international scored the goal that got the victory ‘on track’ against Wolverhampton (3-1).
It had merit. He started the play in midfield and ran to the penalty spot to finish off Madueke’s cross at goal. A goal and a win that keep Chelsea fourth, in the ‘Champions zone’.
“I didn’t think it was that good”
“I think the team deserved it. We have gone through a difficult moment, but the most important thing is how we have reacted,” said Cucurella, who, with his role as an interior winger, often playing in the midfielder’s zone, has changed criticism for praise.
“He’s not necessarily a final third player, so the way they’ve found a role for him at Chelsea has been really good. On the left of a team of three, sometimes in the construction of plays, sometimes in the center of midfield. I think he has progressed in his game. The European Championship was great for him,” says Graham Potter, who had him under his command at Chelsea and Brighton.
I think he has progressed in his game. The Eurocup was great for him
Graham Potter
“It surprised me. I didn’t think he was going to be so good. What’s more, at the time I asked myself: why did Chelsea sign him when they have Ben Chilwell? Obviously, they know more than me and they have proven it. It is doing very well,” Troy Deeney, formerly of Watford, confessed to the ‘BBC’.
“He’s in very good shape, so he doesn’t stop moving. He is very good technically. He likes to defend, something that does not happen with all full-backs. His performance in the final third is good. He has a good game in all aspects,” Danny Murphy, former Liverpool player, told ‘talkSport’. The ‘penguin dance’ triumphs in the Premier.