Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has opened up about his difficult first season at Stamford Bridge, admitting that his confidence was shattered after facing criticism and boos from fans following his high-profile transfer from Brighton.

The 26-year-old Spaniard joined Chelsea in a £62 million deal in 2022 but initially struggled to replicate the form he showed at Brighton. He reunited with former Seagulls boss Graham Potter, but his struggles became evident in January 2023, when Chelsea lost 2-1 to Fulham.

Reflecting on that period, Cucurella recalled how playing just a few minutes in that match made him a scapegoat in the eyes of fans.

“When things started to get a bit complicated, it’s difficult because you start to notice that everything that happens is your fault,” Cucurella told La Media Inglesa.

“I remember a game, I think we lost, at Fulham. 2-1, I think, or 2-0. I played for five minutes or 10 minutes and [it was] my fault, you know.

“I say yes, I know, but I haven’t played. And then people boo me. This is also difficult.”

Cucurella admitted the intense criticism affected his self-belief, something he had never experienced at his previous clubs.

“And I don’t know, you lose a bit of, above all, your confidence in yourself. I think this is the most important thing,” he explained. 

“I came from [an environment] where this had never happened to me. I want to say that in every team I was at before, I always played and everything was great. I’d never had a bad season in any team.”

Despite his early struggles, Cucurella has turned things around under Enzo Maresca, emerging as a key figure in Chelsea’s squad. He now believes he has developed a stronger mentality to handle setbacks.

“But then, ultimately, like everything in life, until it happens to you, you don’t know how to confront it,” he said. “Now, if I were to end up having another bad season, it wouldn’t affect me like before, and I would come out of it better.”

After overcoming his challenging start at Chelsea, Cucurella is now focused on rebuilding his confidence and proving his worth at the club.