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Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has tipped Marc Cucurella to establish himself as the best left-back in the Premier League within the next two years.

Chelsea raised eyebrows when they spent over £60 million to sign Cucurella from Brighton in 2022. Many questioned whether the Spanish full-back was worth the hefty price tag, but he has since proven his value, making 87 appearances for the Blues and missing only two league games this season.

Cucurella, who played a key role for Spain at Euro 2024, has been one of Chelsea’s most reliable performers, and Gallas believes his best is yet to come. “He isn’t there yet, but he has two years to reach his peak,” Gallas told Slingo. “Since the Euros, his confidence has grown, and we’ve seen some great performances.”

For nearly a decade, Liverpool’s Andy Robertson has been regarded as the Premier League’s top left-back, but his form has dipped this season, with speculation that he could leave Anfield in the summer. Gallas believes Cucurella has the talent to take over that mantle.

Despite Cucurella’s strong performances, Chelsea have struggled in recent months. After a promising start that saw them emerge as unexpected title contenders, Enzo Maresca’s side has slipped to sixth place, putting their Champions League hopes at risk.

Gallas attributes Chelsea’s inconsistency to a lack of leadership and defensive cohesion. “They struggle to defend as a team, and there’s a lack of communication,” he noted. “It’s difficult to win games when you face well-organized opponents.”

With Manchester City likely to climb into third place, Gallas sees Chelsea and Nottingham Forest battling for fourth, though he warns that Chelsea’s low confidence and Nicolas Jackson’s absence could see them finish even lower.

Chelsea will look to bounce back on Saturday when they travel to face Aston Villa, who are winless in their last five Premier League matches.