Chelsea's dressing room is 'difficult' for players after another summer of relentless spending and a number of big-name departures, Marc Cucurella has admitted.
A total of 11 new players arrived during the window while the likes of Raheem Sterling and Conor Gallagher were allowed to leave, the former joining Arsenal on loan, continuing the churn of personnel under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Since the club's high-profile takeover in May 2022, over a billion pounds has been invested on incomings while several managers have also come and gone.
But head coach Enzo Maresca still has a bloated squad to select from this season and some players have been forced to train away from the main group of around 28.
Cucurella, currently on international duty with Euro 2024 winners Spain, laid bare the struggle of building morale on a backdrop of constant chopping and changing.
Chelsea's heavy spending and big departures are difficult for their squad, Marc Cucurella says
'It is true that it is difficult, here (with Spain) everything is much easier to generate a good atmosphere,' the full-back told EFE.
'At Chelsea I try, but it is a time of change in which many players leave, and others come. I try to give my best.
'One of the keys to success in the Euro was the good group we had.
'In these tournaments you are together all day, we have to put up with each other and if we hadn't gotten along, it would have been complicated.
Cucurella has also pleaded with the hierarchy to be patient with Maresca, the fifth coach under the regime, and believes 'calm' could ensure success.
'I'm happy, the coach we have is very good, he has very clear ideas,' he added.
'We come from years of changing coaches, let's see if we can gain stability without many changes and that the coach can transmit his ideas.
'We need stability, we have high-level players, and I hope we can have the patience that is needed, that calm, so that everything goes well.
'We have the level, we just need stability and letting the coaches and players work to do something important.'