Alcohol

MARC CUCURELLA does have massive hair but he doesn’t like lager . . . That simple message is unlikely to prompt a rethink of the chant being sung in praise of the Spanish defender having frizzy locks and a thirst for Estrella, who has become an acquired taste like the famous beer from his homeland.Marc Cucurella has transformed his Chelsea fortunesCredit: GettyBoss Enzo Maresca has pushed Cucurella up into a more adventurous roleCredit: RexAfter a difficult start  at Stamford Bridge, Cucurella is regarded as a versatile left-back and goalscoring midfielder.Blues fans have been loving his displays as they sing: ‘He eats paella, he drinks Estrella, his hair’s f***ing massive.’That chant in his honour — to the tune of La Bamba —  has come from the stands more frequently in recent weeks.Grinning widely, Cucurella, 26, joked: “I don’t like Estrella, I don’t like the beer, I don’t like wine. I tried it but don’t like it.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“For a Spanish person it is strange  — but it’s the truth. I only like vodka.”There is no doubt that despite the jokes and even though he does not like wine, the dedicated pro has matured like a good vintage from any vineyard back home.A burglary at his home soon after  joining Chelsea in August 2022 hampered  attempts to settle in — but that is in the distant past now.Cucurella is quite short — a half pint if you like — but  is full  of character and spikiness when it comes to the Chelsea cause.Most read in FootballCucurella says he knows his quality and ‘my family believe in me’Credit: RexBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKIt is a huge turnaround from his  first season when personal problems and the transition of leaving Brighton to become a key signing in an experimental, but expensive squad  affected his  confidence.The £55million transfer fee was  questioned. His quality and durability doubted. ‘I played five minutes and it was my fault’ – Chelsea star opens up on horror season after big money transfer But Cucurella is now a major weapon in the Chelsea armoury.He has scored six goals this season — impressive for a full-back. And all coming since mid-December when head coach Enzo Maresca began tinkering with his team and pushed Cucurella upfield.He now slots in midfield when Chelsea are on the offensive and has scored twice as many goals as star forward Cole Palmer since that point in time when the manager switched tactics.Ahead of hosting Liverpool on Sunday, Cucurella said: “I feel very proud because when I joined  it was tough.“It was my first season and I tried to work hard, not say anything, work in silence. “I know my qualities, my family believe in me. So I try to work hard every day, show my qualities in training.“And then when I have the opportunity, I try to do it in the games. Now  my team-mates and  staff give me  confidence.”Cucurella is urging team-mates to use the awkward moment of forming a guard of honour for Liverpool as inspiration  for future glory.Tradition demands the newly-crowned Premier League champions are afforded an official tribute from their next  opponents after winning the title.It is a painful experience applauding  a rival team but defender Cucurella hopes it can put fire in the bellies of  the Chelsea players dreaming of one  day being on the receiving end.The Spaniard said: “They deserve it because they have been there all season.  If we need to do it, we do it.“This is before the game. It is a process and is not important.“Once the game starts we go for our objectives. We try to fight with everything and fight for the three points.“I don’t remember doing one before, this is the first time. Hopefully, we can have this as well in the next few years.“It’s what we are fighting for and  what we are trying to do.”We train every day for winning every game, for playing these important games… and we start to build something important.Marc CucurellaChelsea players had to endure the embarrassment of forming a guard  of honour at Stamford Bridge when Leicester won the title in 2016.Blues stars such as Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and Cesar Azpilicueta were forced to bow down before the Foxes on their home turf.Not easy for a bunch of players who were ruthless and serial winners — a mentality that current Blues boss Maresca is trying to reintroduce.First step is bidding to win the Conference League — and Chelsea have one foot in the final after trouncing hopeless Swedes Djurgardens 4-1 on Thursday in their semi-final first leg.And Cucurella added: “We train every day for winning every game, for playing these important games, reach finals, play for titles.“This is our main objective and we start to build something important.”Liverpool have lost only two Premier League games on their march to a record-equalling 20th league title.Read More on The SunChelsea are 22 points adrift of them, have suffered eight losses in the league and  dropped points against lowly teams like relegated Ipswich.Maresca is sweating on the fitness of keeper Robert Sanchez while he has been monitoring forward  Christopher Nkunku ahead of this afternoon’s game. 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HIDETOSHI NAKATA didn’t dream of becoming a legendary footballer.The Japanese star, now 48, wasn’t one of those kids that felt a deep-rooted passion for the game.Hidetoshi Nakata has enjoyed an eclectic career post-football retirementCredit: GettyNakata, now, 48, starred for Japan at three World CupsCredit: AP:Associated PressBut due to incredible talent and eye-catching flair, the skilful midfielder went on to become one of his nation’s best ever players.Despite not loving every aspect of the beautiful game, Nakata wasn’t one to shy away from the limelight.While still playing in the J.League, the silky dribbler was so desperate to be spotted at the 1998 World Cup by scouts from Europe that he dyed his hair before every game.Nakata got his wish with a £3.1million move to Perugia in Serie A, then considered the best league in the world.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhy then, did he find himself quitting football aged 29 just eight years later? And how did he go on to create his own booze empire?”I’m not a fan of football, I like to play football,” Nakata told The Athletic. “That’s the reason I left, I had lost the passion. If I didn’t have the passion, it was like I was lying to myself.”Having moved to Roma after two years with Perugia, Nakata fell in love with Italian culture.BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSNakata became a superstar after moving to ItalyCredit: AP:Associated PressThe midfielder celebrates with Roma team-mate CafuCredit: AP:Associated Press”Italy is all about the fashion, music, design, architecture, food, so you can imagine how it influenced me,” he said.Most read in FootballOn the pitch, Nakata managed to help Roma to the Serie A title, but there was one challenge that proved too much.Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballersDisplacing future club legend Francesco Totti.Nonetheless, Nakata had more than quadrupled his value since his initial move to Perugia, with Parma willing to spend £18m on his services.Nakata’s passion for fashion off the pitch drew comparisons with David Beckham at the time, while thousands of passionate Japanese fans would flock to his matches – creating a fever pitch as he became the poster boy of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.Following an underwhelming move to Fiorentina, the football trailblazer signed for Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers on a season-long loan deal in 2005.Mid-way through that season, despite still being in his 20s, he decided that enough was enough.Like Zinedine Zidane, a player whose effortless skills Nakata couldn’t help but admire, the Japanese icon hung up his boots after playing at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.Following three years of travelling the world, Nakata returned to to his homeland and started a sake business.A big-money move to Parma came in 2001Credit: EPANakata was the poster boy of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South KoreaCredit: EPAThe Japanese icon signed for Bolton on loan in 2005Credit: AP:Associated PressMASTER OF SAKE”When I was living in Italy, in my spare time, I used to visit wineries in the country,” he revealed. “So I started liking not only wine itself, but the people making the wines and the environment.”Then when I came back to Japan, thinking about Japanese culture, obviously it’s not about the wine. It’s sake, right?”So then I said, ‘OK, it’s unique, because sake is only made in Japan’. And, at that time, the Japanese food scene was becoming known around the world, but no one knew about the sake, including myself, so I thought that was a great opportunity to know about Japanese sake because it’s also part of Japanese culture as well.”Sake, an alcoholic drink likened to wine and made of fermented rice, went on to become Nakata’s new field of expertise, to a point where he even earned a “Master of Sake” qualification.While he sometimes struggled with his lack of love for football, he found that passion in his businesses.Nakata owns the Japan Craft Sake Company, as well as his Hanaahu luxury tea brand.He also remains involved in fashion, having modelled the sort of Stone Island range worn by football fans across the globe.Speaking to the brand’s website, Nakata revealed his next goal.READ MORE SUN STORIESEver the unorthodox former footballer, he said: “I want to change the farming industry.”And you wouldn’t bet against him.Nakata now owns a successful sake businessCredit: AFP – GettyThe ‘Master of Sake’ attended Paris Fashion Week earlier this monthCredit: Getty More