The Chelsea manager confirmed the half-time substitution was a forced one as Blues drop points at home
Chelsea let a two-goal advantage slip through their fingers on Tuesday evening, settling for a 2-2 draw with Leeds United at Stamford Bridge.
The disappointing result was compounded by a potential hamstring injury to Marc Cucurella that forced his removal at half-time.
Liam Rosenior confirmed after the match that Cucurella’s substitution wasn’t tactical but necessitated by physical discomfort. The defender will undergo medical scans to determine the severity of the issue and his availability for upcoming fixtures.
“Unfortunately at half-time he felt his hamstring,” Rosenior explained. “It wasn’t a tactical change, it was one that was enforced.
“Cucu’s been top and hopefully he’ll be okay. We’ll scan him and make sure we find out if he’s available for the next game.”
Who will replace Cucurella?
Jorrel Hato entered the match as Cucurella’s replacement to start the second half. The Dutchman, signed from Ajax last summer, has struggled for regular game time since joining, largely due to injuries.
But he has started to get some more consistent game time under his belt, featuring in each of the last seven Premier League games.
Should Cucurella‘s injury prevent him from future matches, Hato is the likely candidate to replace him.
Six-minute collapse costs Chelsea crucial points
Chelsea appeared in control moments later when Cole Palmer converted from the penalty spot, doubling the advantage after Joao Pedro had opened the scoring before the break.
What seemed like a comfortable victory quickly unraveled in dramatic fashion. Leeds stormed back with goals from Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor within a six-minute span, erasing Chelsea’s two-goal cushion and salvaging an unlikely away point for Daniel Farke‘s squad.
The dropped points carried significant consequences for Chelsea’s league position. A victory would have lifted them above Manchester United and back into the top four.
Rosenior expressed frustration with how his team surrendered their commanding position, though the injury situation likely disrupted Chelsea’s defensive organisation. Cucurella’s absence meant an unexpected reshuffle at the back during a critical moment of the match.
“It was two key moments in the game that we didn’t take care of, when we didn’t stay calm,” he added.
When is Chelsea’s next match?
The timing of the potential hamstring problem creates additional concern given Chelsea’s packed schedule. The club travels to Hull City on Friday for an FA Cup fourth round tie against the Championship side, giving Cucurella minimal recovery time even if the scans reveal only minor damage.
However, the more positive news for Cucurella is that Chelsea’s next Premier League fixture is not until February 21, when they host Burnley at Stamford Bridge, which could give him enough time to recover.
Hamstring injuries notoriously require careful management to avoid aggravation or long-term complications. Rushing players back from such issues often leads to extended absences, putting pressure on Chelsea’s medical staff to make the right call regarding Cucurella‘s status.