14/07/2025

SPORTS MONDAY | JULY 14, 2025

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Right on the Marc Cucurella feels Chelsea are back where they belong

Ű BY ANDY HAMPSON

M

ARC CUCURELLA believes Chelsea are back at the level they belong after their run to the Club World Cup final.

After a turbulent few years at Stamford Bridge following a takeover in 2022, the club have appeared to turn a corner during their 2024/25 season. That campaign has already brought Champions League qualification for the first time since 2023 and Europa Conference League success. “We’ve had a good season,” said the Spain international. “When I arrived at this club it was difficult and in the beginning we had a lot of

and then I had a lot of time to think about myself and to know me better and what is good for me and what I needed to work on more. This is probably the moment that changed my career.” Cucurella added that the turning point came last year as he first won Euro 2024 with Spain and then started working with new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. He said: “After the Euros I won a lot of confidence because we played amazing football and I was very important in this team. “Then I came here in the summer and everything was better. The manager, with his ideas, helped me a lot. He brought my best football out of me.” – The Independent/ Agencies

game. It’s your job and you don’t celebrate. In small clubs you don’t feel this pressure. It’s an important thing to learn in the big clubs.”

changes. The results were difficult. “But we always try to give 100%. We know Chelsea is a big club. We deserve to be in the final and we have the profile for big things. We have worked a lot to make this happen.” Cucurella feels he too has turned

He says an injury in December 2023 helped him take stock, adding: “I

things around after a difficult start at the club following his £60 million (RM348m) move from Brighton in 2022. The Spain international is now considered one of the most consistent left backs in the Premier League but there were times when he received criticism from his own fans.

started to enjoy my journey here after my injury. “When I was injured, I was three mo n t h s out ,

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He said: “It was tough at the beginning because I think I’m not a player that has the quality to take the ball and change the game in one action. “I’m more of a player that needs to have the team playing well to show my qualities. “At the beginning the team maybe didn’t have identity or a clear way to play. “I enjoyed more at other clubs because when you win you are happy all week and the feeling is very different. “When you come here, you feel like you need to win every Sporting discipline Gyokeres SPORTING LISBON have told Viktor Gyokeres he faces a “hefty fine” for going on strike in an effort to force through a move to Arsenal. The Portuguese club have also warned the Gunners that they will not bow to pressure to accept an offer “below market value”. Gyokeres, who scored 39 league goals to fire Sporting to the Portuguese title last season, is at the top of Arsenal’s wishlist. However, the two clubs are yet to agree a transfer fee and the 27-year-old has appeared to play his hand by refusing to return for pre season training. Sporting president Frederico Varandas told Portuguese news agency Lusa: “We’re calm. “Everything can be solved with the closure of the market, a hefty fine and an apology to the group. “If they don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value,

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Marc Cucurella (back) and Timothy Tillman. – REUTERSPIC

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devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to make it easier for him to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave. “No one is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are.” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in a new striker bef ore the club’s pre season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong, with Arsenal due to play their first match, against AC Milan, on July 23. Forest consider legal action against Spurs NOTTINGHAM FOREST are considering legal action against Tottenham over an alleged illegal approach for Morgan Gibbs-White. The England international was set for a medical in north London on Saturday after Spurs were understood to have triggered Gibbs-White’s £60 million (RM348m) release clause. However, Forest have accused the Europa League winners of contacting Gibbs-White directly rather than making an official approach. Forest are furious and, in response, are drawing up legal papers with a view to reporting Spurs to the Premier League. As result, the deal appears to be on hold for now, although Forest are powerless to stop it happening if Spurs go through the proper channels. Gibbs-White joined Forest for £25 million (RM 145m) in 2022 following their promotion to the Premier League and was instrumental in delivering European football to Forest for the first time since 1996, with seven goals and eight assists in 34 Premier League games.

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we’ll be very comfortable with (keeping him) for the next three years.” In a message which appeared to be aimed towards Gyokeres’ agents, Varandas added: “If the geniuses who are

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Forest’s late collapse in their pursuit of Champions League football looks like it will prove costly

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as Gibbs-White would swap the Conference League for Europe’s premier com petition if he eventually does join Spurs.

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Morgan Gibbs-White. – REUTERSPIC