Marc Cucurella’s evening took a dramatic turn after Chelsea’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brentford.
The Spaniard, who played a crucial role in the win, will now serve a one-match suspension after being sent off following the final whistle.
Cucurella’s troubles began late in stoppage time when he picked up a yellow card for a foul on Fabio Carvalho. Moments after the game ended, tensions flared between both teams on the Stamford Bridge pitch.
The Chelsea defender clashed with Brentford forward Kevin Schade, leading to a second yellow card for “aggressive behavior,” according to the referee’s report. Schade also received a yellow for his role in the altercation.
The suspension comes at a critical time for Chelsea.
While Cucurella will miss their upcoming Premier League clash against Everton on Sunday, he remains eligible to feature in the Europa Conference League match against Shamrock Rovers on Thursday.
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Cucurella’s discipline problem for Chelsea
This is not Cucurella’s first suspension of the season.
Earlier, he missed a game after accumulating five yellow cards in Chelsea’s opening seven matches.
With six bookings already this campaign, the left-back is inching closer to a two-match ban, which will be triggered if he reaches ten yellow cards.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed the situation cautiously, saying, “I didn’t see the second yellow card. The referee said it was for bad attitude. There are things we can do better.”
Cucurella’s absence will force Maresca to adjust his plans for Sunday’s game. However, Chelsea fans can take comfort in knowing the Spaniard will return for their Boxing Day clash against Fulham.
