He took it somewhat personally” – Chelsea player minimizes the dispute with Manchester City star
Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella has downplayed any perceived rivalry with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, revealing that Cole Palmer, a former Manchester City teammate, has mediated between them regarding the issue.
In a recent conversation with EFE, Cucurella addressed various topics, including the supposed rivalry with Haaland. This so-called rivalry gained attention over the summer, during which Cucurella was celebrating Spain’s victory in Euro 2024. At the time, a photo surfaced of Cucurella signing a song with modified lyrics that humorously warned Haaland to “tremble” because Cucurella was coming for him.
This playful exchange was noted and became a topic of discussion when Chelsea and Manchester City faced off on the Premier League’s opening day. In that match, Haaland outperformed Cucurella, pushing him aside to score a goal, contributing to Manchester City’s victory. When questioned about the rivalry afterward, Haaland humorously remarked on the rapid shift from requesting his shirt to having a song dedicated to him.Cucurella has since addressed the matter, insisting that it has been exaggerated. He mentioned that Palmer, who had previously played with Haaland at Manchester City, had spoken to Haaland to clarify the situation.
Cucurella explained, “There was a lot of talk about this in England, and these things just happen. I’m pleased because if someone writes a song about you, it means you’re recognized as a top player or a global star. You wouldn’t have a song written about someone who isn’t well-known.”
He continued, “I’m still delighted with my Euro 2024 victory, and I’d do it all over again. These incidents are minor and should be left in the past. In England, it seems the situation was taken out of context, and Haaland might have misinterpreted the comments. People tend to take things too personally these days, but eventually, there were awards, and Palmer inquired about me to Haaland, which helped to put an end to the situation. It was merely a small anecdote.”
Marc Cucurella has downplayed the notion of a rivalry with Erling Haaland, suggesting that the situation was blown out of proportion. The talk of rivalry emerged from Cucurella’s playful celebration after Spain’s Euro 2024 win, where he sang a modified song that humorously mentioned Haaland. This led to some chatter before Chelsea and Manchester City’s opening Premier League clash, where Haaland notably outperformed Cucurella.
Cucurella clarified that the situation was exaggerated and mentioned that Cole Palmer, a former City teammate now at Chelsea, helped mediate between him and Haaland. He emphasized that the playful banter should be viewed in context and not taken too seriously, noting that if someone has a song written about them, it signifies recognition as a top player.
