"We Didn’t Have It” – Mikel Obi Names Two Things Chelsea Lacked vs Bournemouth and key areas for improvement.

 • Chelsea missed a star player in yesterday's game and the qualities he brings to the team was clearly missing. 

• Mikel Obi has once spoken about the special player. 

Chelsea faced Bournemouth on Tuesday Evening and were tied to a 2-2 draw which was rather disappointing.

The action all came in the first 45 minutes during a first half played at a furious pace, with plenty of chances at both ends of the pitch.

It was the visitors who struck first when David Brooks scrambled in at the second attempt from a long throw-in, but we were soon level.

 Estevao Willian was clipped in the box by Antoine Semenyo and Cole Palmer slotted in from the penalty spot.

Chelsea took the lead when Enzo Fernandez fired a brilliant finish into the top corner, only to see parity restored by Justin Kluivert from another Bournemouth long throw into our area.

It was Chelsea who were pushing hardest for a winning goal in the second half, as the Cherries seemed to run out of gas after those early exertions, but despite those efforts there would be no further goals as the points were shared.

Marc Cucurella missed the clash with minor injury concerns, a decision Maresca confirmed via the Club's official website. The Chelsea head coach said:

"Cucu had a small issue in the last game [against Aston Villa], but he is okay, we hope. Hopefully, he can be available for the next game. We just try to prepare in the best way we can.’

Cucurella may have been the missing piece in yesterday's game, as once illustrated by Mikel Obi. The Chelsea Legend believes Cucurella brings a lot to the Chelsea team and those qualities were missing yesterday. 

Mikel Once described Cucurella as someone who "niggles and bites" but is a great player, consistently showing up in the box to help the team, and a solid performer who has turned a corner with fans. Mikel also believes Cucurella has the kind of character and tenacity that would have made him a valuable part of the Chelsea squad he played in. In essence, Mikel values Cucurella's work ethic, fighting spirit, and contribution to the team, seeing him as a player who gives everything for the badge.

"He could have been in the Chelsea squad I played in because he has that character, he can nibble and nibble all day." Mikel once said. 

"He’s that player you can never get off your back. If he’s your player you love him, if he’s on the other team, you hate him."

Some Chelsea fans are of the opinion that Cucurella's absence was felt yesterday: 

Without Reece James and Marc Cucurella against Bournemouth we’re just an average team, I’m tired man 😭
No balance, no leadership, no control just vibes and suffering.#CHEBOU pic.twitter.com/Oes0EGiZDs

— 🅱️Ⓜ️8️⃣✨ (@lengisaan) December 30, 2025

Key player!

🚨The last time Marc Cucurella wasn't in the Chelsea lineup for a Premier League match was in December 2024, which was a 0-0 draw away at Everton.#Chelsea
[@kierangill_DM] pic.twitter.com/e8DqO9Xljw

— Blue Season Daily (@BlueSeasonDaily) December 30, 2025

 Such a relief we'll have him back next game:

Maresca has confirmed that Cucurella could be available for the next game.

What a relief!

— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) December 30, 2025

 Meanwhile, Assistant Coach Willy Caballero has identified key areas where the Blues need to improve going forward.  

Caballero believes the Blues must learn to start games quicker if we are to achieve our aims this season.

‘In another view we are creating and we are scoring goals, which is good, but we need to manage to find a way to win those points, to kill those games, because these are the games that we’re going to need to achieve our targets in the second half of the season," he told the Club's Official website.

‘Sometimes it’s details, sometimes it’s because the opponent finds a way to break through, to create those chances, but we need to find the kind of mentality to avoid losing or drawing that kind of game.

‘We invest a lot and today was a really good game in terms of playing how we play, how we want to get in the box. We created many chances, but unfortunately we have to think more about the start.’