Chelsea star Marc Cucurella has admitted he was ‘scared s***less’ by Donald Trump when the US president gatecrashed their Club World Cup lift.
Trump became an unexpected participant in Chelsea’s celebrations after they beat PSG 3-0 as he lingered on the stage while Reece James held the trophy aloft.
As the players danced around at the MetLife Stadium, Trump continued to stand among them clapping and smiling, much to the confusion of just about everybody – especially Cole Palmer.
Cucurella told Spanish journalist Gerard Romero: ‘We had been told that, as a rule, Donald Trump would come to present us with the trophy and that we couldn’t lift it until he left.
‘And of course, we were all there waiting for him to leave, but the guy didn’t want to leave, and on top of that, we looked at him and he said, “Get him up, I’ll stay here, and so on.”
‘And I wondered who would say anything to him, you know… I was scared s***less!’
The US President had arrived to a chorus of boos at MetLife Stadium and watched on as Chelsea secured a surprise 3-0 win against PSG, with Palmer scoring a brace while Joao Pedro was also on target.
Roughly 35 minutes before kickoff, Trump and wife Melania arrived at the nearby Teterboro Airport on the presidential Marine One helicopter from his local golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
The 79-year-old was given VIP treatment as he soaked up the action alongside First Lady Melania, who cut a chic figure in a white dress and black blazer, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
But Trump’s crowning moment came after the final whistle when he took centre stage as the trophy was given to Chelsea.
It was anticipated that the Commander-in-Chief would step aside after giving the trophy to Chelsea captain James – as is customary.
However, to the bewilderment of many Chelsea players, Trump remained on stage for the entire trophy lift.
Palmer, who really was the star of the show on the day, was astonished. An expression of disgust washed over his face. ‘What’s he doing?’ he asked his team-mates.
Speaking afterwards, the England star was honest but slightly more measured than his facial contortions had suggested.
‘I knew he was going to be here but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy so I was a bit confused, yeah,’ he said.
Trump had earlier presented Palmer with the golden ball award with the 23-year-old midfielder looking as equally baffled during that presentation.
After presenting medals to both the victors and losers, the Trmup was front and center as the Blues hoisted the trophy.
Following his presentation of the trophy to Chelsea, he was asked to leave the stage by Infantino but bizarrely chose to stay put.
