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Cucurella header gives Blues huge Champions League boost
Jun 05 2026 01:55 · By Andy Dillon · 1 Reads
MARC CUCURELLA does not drink beer but he was the toast of Chelsea last night for salvaging their Champions League dreams.
The Spanish defender produced a dazzling headed finish to a spectacular move to fire Enzo Maresca’s team back into the top five.
5 Marc Cucurella was the hero as he notched in Chelsea's winner Credit: Getty
5 The defender stole in at the back post to head in Reece James' cross Credit: Reuters
5 Chelsea have maintained their place in the top four Credit: Getty
5 Harry Maguire found the net but his strike was ruled out for offside Credit: PA
5 It was another frustrating evening for Manchester United Credit: PA
Chelsea’s ambitions of getting back among the big boys in Europe is now back in their own hands after an almighty wobble.
They were struggling to break down Manchester United and with top five rivals Aston Villa winning earlier, had dropped out of the reckoning.
But then the curly-topped full-back flew through the air, bulged the net and triggered a rousing chorus of the song the fans sing in his name about his massive hair and that he drinks Estrella - the famous lager from his homeland.
Cucurella actually prefers a nice glass of wine but nobody was listening as Stamford Bridge went wild following his goal 18 minutes from time.
Chelsea are now up to fourth and if they win at Nottingham Forest next Sunday they will be back in the Champions League after a two season absence.
And his goal was of fine vintage if only for the superb turn and floated cross performed by skipper Reece James for the assist.
The full back spun on a sixpence and chipped a ball from the edge of the box with Cucurella’s trailing barnet blowing in the wind before he beat Manchester United keeper Andre Onana with a bullet header.
It was the perfect rebound from last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle which seemed to have inflicted serious damage on Chelsea’s hopes.
Chelsea’s ambitions of getting back among the big boys in Europe is now back in their own hands after an almighty wobble.
They were struggling to break down United and with top five rivals Aston Villa winning earlier, had dropped out of the reckoning.
But then the curly-topped full back flew through the air, bulged the net and triggered a rousing chorus of the song the fans sing in his name about his massive hair and that he drinks Estrella - the famous lager from his homeland.
Cucurella actually prefers a nice glass of wine but nobody was listening as Stamford Bridge went wild following his goal 18 minutes from time.
Chelsea are now up to fourth and if they win at Nottingham Forest next Sunday they will be back in the Champions League after a two season absence.
And his goal was of fine vintage if only for the superb turn and floated cross performed by skipper Reece James for the assist.
The full back spun on a sixpence and chipped a ball from the edge of the box with Cucurella’s trailing barnet blowing in the wind before he beat Manchester United keeper Andre Onana with a bullet header.
It was the perfect rebound from last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle which seemed to have inflicted serious damage on Chelsea’s hopes.