Marc Cucurella endured one of the most hostile atmospheres of his Chelsea career on Wednesday night, as boos rang out around the Allianz Arena every time he touched the ball.

The Spaniard, back in the starting XI after being benched against Brentford, was singled out by Bayern Munich supporters throughout the Champions League clash.

But why exactly did Cucurella face such treatment?

The answer lies not in Chelsea’s rivalry with Bayern, but in Germany’s painful exit at Euro 2024.

During Spain’s dramatic quarter-final against the hosts, Cucurella handled Jamal Musiala’s goal-bound shot in extra-time. Referee Anthony Taylor waved play on and VAR controversially declined to intervene.

Spain went on to knock Germany out, sparking fury across the nation. Months later, UEFA themselves admitted the officials got it wrong. The Referees’ Committee explained that Cucurella’s arm position clearly met the criteria for a penalty under updated guidelines.

For German fans, however, the damage was already done. That moment robbed them of a potential semi-final on home soil, and Cucurella became the unfortunate symbol of injustice.

Fast forward to Chelsea’s visit to Bayern, supporters seized the opportunity to remind Cucurella they hadn’t forgiven or forgotten. Every touch of the ball was met with whistles and boos, creating a cauldron-like atmosphere for the left-back.

At 26, Cucurella has faced criticism in England over his form and price tag, but rarely has he been subjected to such targeted hostility. Against Bayern, he was not just a Chelsea player—he was the man linked to Germany’s Euro heartbreak.