Marc Cucurella reveals text from Chelsea ‘legend of football’ standing in way of Blues and Club World Cup final

MARC CUCURELLA has hailed Thiago Silva as a “legend of football” as Chelsea’s emotional reunion with their much-loved Brazilian looms.

The veteran defender will be part of the Fluminense team taking on Chelsea in Tuesday’s Club World Cup semi final.

Silva, 40, spent two of his four years at Stamford Bridge playing alongside Cucurella and the pair have already been in touch ahead of the game.

Cucurella said: “He’s a legend of football, a top player. He’s only played for big clubs and texted me before the game saying ‘let’s go, hopefully we can see you in a couple of days’.

“I texted him saying ‘let’s go’. We have the opportunity to play against him again and hopefully we can do good things and win this game and play in the final which is what we want to do.

“We’ve watched some of their games. They have very good players. They are very determined, they have Thiago. They’re in the semi-final because they’ve done the right things. It will be a very equal game.”

Chelsea fans back home in London still sing about Silva and how he came to them from PSG to win the Champions League as he did in 2021.

With more than 100 caps for Brazil he is regarded as one of the finest defenders of all time.

Cucurella has already tasted life playing alongside the next generation of South American stars in Estevao Willian – the new £29million forward who will be joining Chelsea later this summer.

Estevao played against Cucurella in his final game for Palmeiras on Friday – the Club World Cup quarter final which Chelsea won 2-1 to set up a dream date with Silva.

Cucurella, 26, and teenager Estevao got up close with a bit of rough stuff to spice up the game.

Spaniard Cucurella said: “It’s football, he tried to do his job, I tried to do my job. The most important thing is that we won and are going through. He had the chance to score a good goal so now hopefully he enjoys his holidays, can rest and will come back strong.

“It was a tough game, we played against a tough opponent with a lot of good players and a lot of quality.

“He gives all his best in every action. I think he’s a good player with a lot of talent. For sure, we want to help him. We try to help him in all the things that we can to settle in.

“But he needs to do whatever he wants. I think we have a top group of players. I think the human side we have is very good. We have a group that is very close.

“Hopefully, he can understand this and hopefully he can be one of us very soon. In the dressing room, there’s been quite a lot of turnover of players in and out. Lots of changes within the squad.”

Cucurella is impressed with the way Chelsea fought back from conceding against Palmeiras through a stunning goal by incoming team-mate Estevao.

He said: “We showed the team was ready. We played very good in the first half and the second half we needed to suffer a little bit but we stayed together and gave everything and we won the game.

“Brazilian teams have a very high level. They have showed in this tournament that they are going right until the final stages. Now we have another tough match against Fluminense.

“We will play against Thiago Silva and I think that will be very nice. But now we will try to rest, prepare well for the match and face it in the best way possible.

“We’ve played against two Brazilian teams so far and now we will face a third. They fight until the end.

“We’re happy to be in the next round and to have this experience of playing against the South American teams which isn’t very common. Overall, we’re enjoying this tournament.”

Chelsea imploded in their group game against Flamengo – from leading, they crumbled to a 3-1 defeat and had striker Nicolas Jackson sent off.

But Malo Gusto believes the mentality of the team is improving. It has been a long standing criticism of Chelsea but the Frenchman is convinced they are toughening up.

He said: “During this competition, our mental strength has been the most important thing. That’s what we are in these semi final because we’ve shown that on the pitch during all the games that we have had.

“I think it’s the key, 100 per cent. We know the weather is tough, the pitch too, all the teams are very good, many things are around the game and we have to deal with it.

“That’s why this competition is so hard to play and that’s why we are so happy to get this far.

“If we can overcome those hurdles we can do anything and that’s why we must believe in ourselves, give our best and see what goes after.”