LEAP YEAR

Cucurella: 2024 took me to new heights - now we can rule world

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FROM JOHN CROSS In New York @johncrossmirror MARC CUCURELLA describes 2024 as the best year of his playing career.

And now the Chelsea full back wants to finish his never-ending 2024-25 season in glorious style by winning the Club World Cup tonight.

It was a year ago this weekend that Cucurella helped Spain win the European Championship-beating England in the final - which was almost the crowning glory in a turnaround in his own fortunes.

Cucurella was a target for Chelsea's boo-boys during two difficult seasons after joining the club from Brighton for a huge fee of £62million in 2022.

But he won back the fans with a swashbuckling determination that has been such a feature in Chelsea's run to the CWC finale at the MetLife Stadium.

The 26-year-old left-back admits it has been a tough journey through injury and fan backlash but his road to redemption began in March 2024 when he scored against Leicester.

And he has never looked back under boss Enzo Maresca.

Spain international Cucurella said: "When I was injured, I was three months out, and then I had a lot of time to think about myself and to know myself better and what is good for me and what I needed to work on more.

"This is probably the moment that changed my career.