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Mauricio Pochettino insists Marc Cucurella remains part of his plans despite the left-back\u2019s lingering disappointment over the collapse of a deadline day move to Manchester United. <\/p>\n
Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis<\/p>\n
Thomas Tuchel was still in the Stamford Bridge hotseat when Chelsea decided to pay Brighton \u00a363million for the Spaniard but the 25-year-old has struggled to find his best form under a succession of managers. <\/p>\n
With Ben Chilwell already established as a key part of Pochettino\u2019s rebuild, Cucurella\u2019s hopes of resurrecting his Chelsea career were further hindered by the Argentine\u2019s decision to deploy Levi Colwill as a makeshift left-back.<\/p>\n
Cucurella appeared on the verge of a loan move to United earlier this month with Erik ten Hag shorn of the services of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia but eventually settled on the temporary signing of Sergio Reguilon from Spurs. <\/p>\n
A failure to complete a move to Old Trafford has reportedly left Cucurella disappointed and with his only appearances so far this season coming in the Carabao Cup, he could be forgiven for thinking he is being frozen out. <\/p>\n
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Asked about the defender\u2019s chances of forcing his way back into his Premier League starting XI ahead of Monday\u2019s west London derby at Fulham, Pochettino said: \u201cI wasn\u2019t involved but he\u2019s our player and I\u2019ve been clear: he has chances, he can play. <\/p>\n
\u2018Marc is going to work hard. It\u2019s really clear. he\u2019s in our plan and if he deserves to play, he will play.\u2019<\/p>\n
Cucurella is far from the only Chelsea star struggling to find form, but Pochettino insists he retains faith in a clutch of youngsters who have been bought as much for their potential as their current ability. <\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s not only Mischa (Mykhailo Mudryk), it\u2019s many players that arrive,\u2019 he said. The level of these guys, because they are so young, changes.<\/p>\n
\u2018Big change from where they come and also it\u2019s not about arriving and performing when you are young, it\u2019s about adapting, helping them to settle. <\/p>\n
\u2018And then the most difficult thing is to understand what they need to settle and to feel comfortable and to express their talent.\u2019<\/p>\n