Puma’s launch of their £220 Future 8 boots has taken an unexpected hit after Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella endured a tough outing in them during Sunday’s dramatic 4-3 victory over Tottenham.
Wearing the new boots, Cucurella slipped twice early in the game, leading directly to two Tottenham goals within 11 minutes.
The Spaniard quickly changed into a different pair of Puma boots, but the damage was done, both on the pitch and for Puma’s marketing efforts.
Adding to the fallout, Cucurella posted a now-deleted Instagram story showing the boots in a bin with the caption “Sorry Blues,” which quickly went viral online.
Puma, already facing pressure from underwhelming third-quarter sales, marketed the boots as delivering adaptability, movement, and control, qualities notably absent during Cucurella’s slips.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher criticized Cucurella, calling the incident “schoolboy stuff,” while Peter Drury quipped it was like “Cinderella needing a slipper that fits.”
Despite the shaky start, Cucurella recovered to assist a goal as Chelsea mounted a thrilling comeback, securing a crucial win and climbing to second in the Premier League standings.