Why Marc Cucurella Was Given Red Card After Chelsea’s 2-1 Win Over Brentford

Chelsea extended their impressive Premier League run with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Brentford on Sunday evening.

Despite the triumph, the match concluded on a controversial note as Marc Cucurella received a red card after the final whistle, sparking debate among fans.

Playing at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea took the lead with goals from Marc Cucurella in the 43rd minute and Nicolas Jackson in the 80th.

Brentford managed a late response through Bryan Mbeumo in the 90th minute, though it did little to shift the outcome as Thomas Frank’s side now finds themselves in the bottom half of the table.

Under Enzo Maresca’s guidance in his debut season, Chelsea has shown attacking prowess, winning 10 of their 15 league matches and currently sitting second in the Premier League standings.

Cucurella’s diving header marked his first-ever Premier League goal for the Blues, further cementing his role in the team’s dynamic attack.

However, the post-match atmosphere turned tense when Cucurella clashed with Brentford’s Kevin Schade in a heated exchange.

The confrontation escalated, leading to the referee issuing a second yellow card to Cucurella for “an aggressive attitude,” resulting in his dismissal.

Schade also received a yellow card for his involvement in the scuffle.

Interestingly, Cucurella had already been booked earlier in the game for a reckless challenge on Fabio Carvalho, making this his first career red card.

The Premier League’s Match Centre cited his “aggressive attitude” during the post-match incident as the reason for the dismissal.

Now 26 years old, Cucurella—who has 13 caps for the Spanish national team—will miss Chelsea’s next fixture against Everton as they aim to maintain their strong momentum heading into the latter half of the season.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca addressed the incident post-game, stressing the importance of better handling in these situations. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “I didn’t see the second yellow card, but the referee explained it was for bad attitude. There are things we can improve as a team.”

The red card and subsequent events have added an extra layer of complexity to Chelsea’s season as they prepare for what comes next.