Graham Potter has once again defended Chelsea star Marc Cucurella after he was the subject of boos from the Blues away end in their Premier League draw with West Ham. The Spaniard was subbed off in the second half for Ben Chilwell with boos then emanating from the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand where the Chelsea supporters were located.
Since his £62million move from Brighton in the summer, Cucurella has struggled to replicate the form and performances on the south coast that saw Manchester City also register a strong interest in him.
The 24-year-old has come under fire for his displays in a Chelsea shirt, but Potter, who certainly got the best out of Cucurella at Brighton, defended his player ahead of the clash with West Ham.
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"They are humans with private lives and things going on. Marc is not the only one," he said in his pre-match press conference. "At the same time, you understand supporters pay their money and the most important thing is what happens on that pitch over 90 minutes. But nevertheless, players have to deal with stuff.
"Marc is fine, he's going about his work. He knows he is probably not in the best moment of form but he isn't the only player who has to come through a moment. He is a player the club invested money in during the summer and it is our job to help him, support him, and bring him to the place where he is showing everyone his qualities."
With Ben Chilwell still working his way back from a long-term injury, Cucurella was deployed at left-back before making way with just over 20 minutes to play.
As his number and name were announced on the PA system, the Chelsea fans in attendance let their feelings be known with heavy boos for Cucurella, quickly followed by mass cheers for the introduction of Chilwell.
Asked about that specific moment after the draw against West Ham, Potter pointed to the fact Cucurella had been part of the Chelsea defence for their consecutive run of clean sheets.
"Supporters are entitled to their opinion of course and they just want the team to do well," he said. "I don't think Marc is in his best moment but at the same time he's been part of a team that has kept a clean sheet at Anfield, a clean sheet against Fulham.
"In the summer, I know because I was the selling club, there was another club interested in Marc, from a point in the Premier League, they're a good football club.
"Marc hasn't become a bad player at all but players sometimes can go through bad times and we need to stick together and try to help him. At the same time, supporters are entitled to their opinion and there's nothing for me to be critical of. That's just what we have to work with."
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