When questioned about the left-wing battle during Chelsea's 3-0 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League group stage on 25/11, Sanchez declared, "Cucurella put Yamal in his pocket."

The Spanish goalkeeper's remark quickly captured media attention. CBS Sports Golazo, for instance, shared a composite image featuring Cucurella with car keys, a wallet, and Yamal, captioned: "Cucurella checks his pockets after tonight."

Cucurella (left) effectively contained Yamal during Chelsea's 3-0 victory over Barcelona in the fifth round of the Champions League group stage on 25/11. *Photo: AS*

At Stamford Bridge, Cucurella was instrumental in neutralizing Yamal. The player, who placed second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or, found it nearly impossible to dribble past defenders or deliver dangerous passes against his Spain national team colleague. Whenever Yamal attempted to cut centrally, Chelsea midfielders were ready, anticipating and intercepting his moves.

Beyond stifling Yamal, Cucurella also played a role in the build-up to the opening goal and the incident that saw Ronald Araujo receive a red card late in the first half. The Spanish left-back's contributions were vital to Chelsea's 3-0 victory.

"Cucurella was truly incredible", remarked former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. "This was perhaps the best performance I've seen from a left-back in a long time."

Coach Enzo Maresca also lauded his player, stating, "Cucurella consistently provides us with an advantage. Since my arrival at the club, he has maintained impressive form, excelling in both defense and attack."

Cucurella joined Chelsea from Brighton for 74 million USD in 2022. Since then, he has consistently been one of their most dynamic players. Last season, the 27-year-old defender accumulated 4,350 minutes across 54 matches in all competitions. This season, he has already played over 1,400 minutes, making 15 starts in 18 appearances, a figure surpassed only by Enzo Fernandez.

In over three years with Chelsea, Cucurella has secured the Conference League and the Club World Cup. This season, he and the team are pursuing further achievements. Chelsea currently sits second in the Premier League with 23 points after 12 rounds, six points adrift of Arsenal. In the Champions League group stage, Cucurella and his teammates are ranked 7th with 10 points from five matches, placing them in a strong position to advance directly to the round of 16.

Cucurella and Yamal are national teammates, having won Euro 2024 and secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup together. When queried about their impending on-field clash before the Chelsea-Barcelona match, Cucurella stated, "We understand each other well from numerous training ground encounters, but this isn't a personal battle between Lamine Yamal and Cucurella."

*Thanh Quy (according to AS, CBS)*