Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has disclosed how the squad responded to Nicolas Jackson’s recent red card during their 3-1 defeat to Flamengo in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Senegalese forward was sent off just four minutes after coming on as a substitute, receiving a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Ayrton Lucas.
It marked Jackson’s second red card in three matches across all competitions, drawing scrutiny over his discipline and decision-making in high-pressure moments.
Jackson’s dismissal leaves Chelsea in a difficult situation ahead of their final group match against Espérance Tunis.
The Blues now likely need a win to advance from the group stage, and Jackson’s suspension adds to the pressure on the attacking unit.
Despite the setback, Cucurella says the incident has not caused unrest within the camp.
Speaking ahead of the Espérance clash, the Spanish full-back insisted that the squad has moved on from the red card and remains focused on the task ahead.
“Yes, for sure it’s been accepted. What happened is just football,” Cucurella said. “This game is sometimes about mistakes.
“He made a mistake, but we have forgotten about this. We’ll miss him in the next game, but we have other players that can do his job.”
Chelsea’s hopes of progressing now rest on a strong team response, with manager Enzo Maresca expected to shuffle his attacking options in the absence of Jackson.
