Marc Cucurella had a hard start to life at Chelsea following a big money fee from Brighton.

Cucurella was a top player for Graham Potter at Chelsea, but the Spaniard never really performed well under Potter at Chelsea.

Cucurella was even linked with a move away from the club until he picked back form last season.

Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter has opened up on the difficulties Marc Cucurella had to endure during his time in charge of the club.

“Delighted for Marc Cucurella, because he’s had a tough start to his career here at Chelsea,” Potter said after Cucurella’s performance vs Arsenal.

“He came in with maybe a high fee, and at a time when the team wasn’t functioning as well as maybe what he was used to. He had to take some stick here at Stamford Bridge, it was quite hostile.

“There was a period of time where he was almost trying to think: if the results aren’t going so well, you want to do as much as you can to have the crowd with you.

“But it was obvious there was a real dislike for Marc here. So it goes into your thinking about whether to put him in,” the former Blues coach explained.

“I remember playing him against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, I think he was man of the match. It’s a credit to him, he’s got the character.

“You’re not going to get a better person in terms of how he is with teammates and how good he is around the place, and how he fights every single day.

“That performance against Saka require intensity and commitment every single day, and he’s been rewarded to that.”

Cucurella is now rated as one of the best left-backs in the world, and is also a key player for Spain.