Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has urged his teammates to develop a stronger killer instinct following their 2-1 home defeat to newly promoted Sunderland.
The Spaniard expressed disappointment with the team’s inability to maintain focus and convert dominance into victory, describing the result as a “wake-up call” for the Blues after a run of strong performances.
Chelsea had started brightly when Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal for the club in the fourth minute, but Sunderland equalised through Wilson Isidor midway into the first half. Despite controlling possession and creating several chances, the Blues failed to find a breakthrough, allowing Chemsdine Talbi to snatch a stoppage-time winner for Sunderland a result that left Stamford Bridge stunned.
Speaking after the match, Cucurella admitted the team must improve their mentality in decisive moments. “We start well but then allow our opponents to get back into the game. We need to learn how to finish matches when we’re in control,” he said. The Spanish defender also lamented defensive lapses, particularly the goal conceded from a long throw-in, saying, “We knew they would use long throws, but we didn’t deal with it well enough.”
The defeat halted Chelsea’s four-match winning streak across all competitions and raised fresh concerns about the team’s inconsistency under manager Enzo Maresca. The Blues, who had recently beaten Liverpool, now face mounting pressure to rediscover their rhythm as they sit mid-table in the Premier League standings.
Cucurella, however, believes it is too early in the season to panic, insisting that the squad still has time to respond positively. “It’s a tough loss to take, but it’s still early. We have to learn from it, stay united, and improve our focus in front of goal,” he told reporters after the game.
He added that Chelsea must combine their creativity with a clinical edge if they hope to challenge for trophies this season. “We scored early, we played well in parts, but football is about results. We need to be better and more ruthless,” Cucurella said, emphasizing the need for Chelsea to develop a winning mentality ahead of their next league fixture.