Chelsea fans ruthlessly took aim at Marc Cucurella following Ben Chilwell’s red card for Chelsea against Real Madrid during their Champions League clash.
Cucurella was brought on by Frank Lampard after Kalidou Koulibaly suffered an injury and made an instant impact – but not in a positive way.
He failed to track Rodrygo’s run as the Real forward ran through on goal until Chilwell dragged him down, resulting in a straight red card.
But supporters on social media bemoaned the Spaniard’s defending following the England international receiving his marching orders.
One Twitter user wrote: “Cucurella loses marker, by getting drawn out, doesn’t have the speed to get back, Chilwell panics and gets a red. Stop looking at the final action.”
A second tweeted: “Cucurella should have been sent off instead for that.”
A third added: “People are going to blame Chilwell, watch Cucurella get sucked in.”
A fourth said: “Cucurella completely loses Rodrygo, doesn’t have the athleticism to catch him, Chilwell does and fouls him.”
A fifth commented: “Cucurella basically got Chilwell sent off.”
Another fumed: “If Cucurella had marked his man, Chilwell wouldn’t need to do that.”
The 24-year-old was snapped up last summer after starring for Brighton last season. He moved to the club for an initial £55 million but has largely failed to impress – even when his old manager Graham Potter took over from Thomas Tuchel.
Just 15 minutes after Chelsea were reduced to 10 men, Real doubled their lead as Marco Asensio brilliantly slotted home from outside the box.
Karim Benzema gave his side the lead to keep up his prolific goal-scoring ways against English opposition.
The competition holders will take a two-goal advantage into next week’s second-leg at Stamford Bridge.
Will Carlo Ancelotti’s team go all the way? Let us know what you think.
