Chelsea Fans React As Potter Subs Cucurella Off After 35 Minutes

There has been mixed reactions by Chelsea fans following Potter’s subbing off £62million Marc Cucurella after just 35 into Chelsea vs Man United cracker at Stamford Bridge tonight.

The Chelsea boss started with a fluid 3-4-3 with the expensive summer signing from Brighton at left centre-back.

But with just Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the middle of the park, the Blues were getting overrun.

And Potter wasted no time in making the brutal change, dragging off the expensive defender he worked with at the Amex.

That allowed Chelsea to switch to more of a 4-3-3 formation – and immediately they took a stronger grip on the game.

And fans quickly praised Potter for making the bold call so early in the game – after hooking Cucurella at half-time and on 61 minutes in their last two games.

See some reactions culled from Twitter by Infoexpert24 below:

@PoojaMedia : Potter replaces Cucurella with Kovacic in 35th minute. Wow.

@sportbible :  Cucurella hooked off after 35 minutes. No messing from Graham Potter!

@ExpectedChelse:  I want to hold my thoughts on Cucurella’s Chelsea career so far but he really hasn’t been that impressive. Really hope he improves but he just hasn’t all been all that good.

@lauriewhitwell : Potter had been shouting often at Chilwell + Cucurella re positioning. Wanting both higher when Chelsea in possession. Clearly thinks it’s not working so has made sub + shifted to back four.

A sign of United’s control of this games so far.

@skinnyniggr : Chelsea have been so much better since the Cucurella/Kovacic switch

One said: “Like that Potter was brave enough to make that early change.”

Another wrote: “Love that substitution by Potter. We were clearly losing the midfield battle. It was all United. It’s been 50/50 since Kovacic came on for Cucurella. Big 2nd half ahead.”

A third added: “Cucurella off for Kovacic makes sense and the fact it’s being done so early I really like. Proactive.”

Some felt Ben Chilwell should have been replaced instead as the former Leicester man continues to return to the top form he displayed before his knee injury last season.

Chelsea were better in the game after the change.

Soon after the shake up, Chelsea were able to press more in midfield which in turn helped turnover the ball and create a couple of chances.

However, they could not find a way past David de Gea with just one shot on target in the first half.