The Spaniard had a 2024 to remember, as he won the European Championship with his national team before returning to find his best form yet in a Chelsea shirt under Enzo Maresca. In an exclusive interview, he tells us about the 'new football' in which he is thriving.

'A lot of teams have started using it,' said Cucurella. 'I think the idea started at Barcelona, and when I was there in those years we played a lot of very good football. So I think the main idea came from there and after that some of the others started using this idea.

'It’s a 4-3-3, because you start with four defenders and then when you attack you go with three defenders and one in midfield. This is the main idea, but it’s more fluid, and you have everything under more control this way. It’s like you have extra attacking players, which gives you more control in the midfield because one defender moves in there.

'It’s part of the new football, but I think it’s better for the teams and the fans as well, because you can see more attacking players doing their thing and trying their best to score goals.'

Bournemouth are enjoying a very promising season in the top half of the Premier League table, but they didn’t become regular opponents of Chelsea until recently. In fact, the first-ever game between these clubs wasn’t until the 1988/89 season, and we spoke to a former Blue who was playing for the Cherries in that first encounter, Trevor Aylott.

'I love both clubs so it’s nice to have memories of games between them,' he says. 'We had a bit of success when I was at Bournemouth, we got promoted to the old Second Division – where Chelsea were at that time – but to be quite honest with you, I never, ever thought they would be in the top division.'

Aylott is still in touch with the club and comes to the Bridge reasonably often, catching up with old team-mates and other Chelsea youth products from years gone by.

'The great thing about Chelsea is they’re brilliant with the hospitality for ex-players,' he adds. 'I went to the game against Aston Villa this season and I bumped into Gary Chivers, Colin Pates, Johnny Bumstead, Dave Lee – more players who came through the youth system here! And everyone’s still connected to the club.

'It’s brilliant, it really is. I love going back, I loved my time when I was there – great days, they really were.'

Elsewhere in the programme, features editor Dominic Bliss takes a look at the fascinating career of another player who came through the Blues youth ranks, Mel Scott, once tipped to be the England centre-half of the future, who became the last professional to captain the Army XI.

Then there is all the latest from around the club, as well as stats, facts and tables to ensure you’re armed with all the details as we return to Premier League action.

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