Cucurella a ‘rabbit in the headlights’ as Chelsea situation slammed: ‘Honkingly bad’
Marc Cucurella and his Chelsea teammates looked incredibly uncomfortable at their game against LAFC.
The Blues’ first match of the revamped Club World Cup (CWC) saw them take on some familiar faces.
LAFC had former Tottenham shot-stopper Hugo Lloris starting in goal, whilst former West London ace Olivier Giroud began the clash on the bench.
Much had been made of the Blues’ squad travelling to the USA for the competition, as Enzo Maresca chose to leave behind Renato Veiga and Djordje Petrovic, much to the annoyance of many Chelsea fans.
But whilst the Italian manager’s squad selection was hotly debated, there is no doubt that FIFA’s decision on how they introduce teams in the CWC has missed the mark.
Stan Collymore blasts Chelsea introductions
Prior to each game of the CWC, FIFA has taken the interesting approach of having each individual player come out, one by one, beginning with Blues left-back Cucurella.
The players’ names are then announced to the fans in attendance, although the empty seats in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium led to a muted response for the players’ presentations.
The decision to introduce each player, and then have them stand off to the side was not well-received by former England international Stan Collymore, who said on X: “I genuinely felt for Cucurella, the lad looked like a rabbit in the head lights.
“[Expletive] honkingly bad idea and completely anti the spirit of football.”
Chelsea took a 1-0 lead in at the break in Atlanta after a Pedro Neto strike.
Club World Cup feels inauthentic and forced
Football Insider Verdict
FIFA have taken the approach of forcing the CWC down viewers’ throats as a spectacle, as opposed to recognising what it actually is: an overhyped pre-season competition.
Rather than it being an immense introduction, like gladiators into the colosseum, the Chelsea and LAFC players wandered in awkwardly to a smattering of applause from the few who had dared pay the offensive ticket prices.
Gianni Infantino is desperate for his pet project to be viewed as a summer alternative to the Premier League, or the Champions League, or even the World Cup.
But the low attendance that could be seen in Atlanta showed that even in spite of the best players and teams being in town, few care about the tournament.
The clubs will enjoy it, mainly because there is some serious cash to be earned for winning the competition, but the overriding feeling of the CWC is one of inauthenticity, something to be won for the prize money, rather than the bragging rights.