Marc Cucurella was back in Chelsea’s starting lineup for the game against Fulham after serving a one-game suspension, and manager Enzo Maresca has highlighted the importance of his return to the team. 

“Not only defensively, on and off the ball Marc [Cucurella] is helping us a lot,” Maresca said of Cucurella. “It is the same way Malo [Gusto] is doing on the other side. We are happy with both of them.”

Maresca emphasised the importance of team character and togetherness; “We need to show character. It’s not just about talent; it’s also about the way you fight all together. The last game was an example of this, with the togetherness we showed, and this is important.”

Chelsea lost the game to Fulham, but Enzo Maresca will be hoping his team bounces back with a victory against Ipswich on Monday.