Marc Cucurella explains unique pressure of representing Real Madrid: “Every match is hugely important”

Marc Cucurella sheds light on the unique pressure of representing Real Madrid, stating that "every match is hugely important" to the team. The World Cup winner joined the club during the summer transfer window, aiming to bolster Jose Mourinho's squad in a position that had been problematic since Marcelo's departure. Cucurella explains what sets playing for Real Madrid apart from other teams.

"Being a Real Madrid player means that every match against another team is hugely important to them, perhaps the biggest match of the year," he notes. With years of experience at Barcelona, Cucurella understands this perspective. "When I used to play against Madrid, that week was special: everyone wanted to come and see you, and they wrote to you," he recalls.

However, playing for Los Blancas comes with its own set of challenges. Cucurella acknowledges the responsibility of winning every match as a wonderful thing, but it can also be difficult to handle. He had a tough start to his career at Real Madrid but has since begun to embrace his new role in the Spanish capital. His recent performances have coincided with the team's improved form, making him Jose Mourinho's first-choice left-back.

The Spaniard is also up against strong competition from Alvaro Carreira, who has received a fair share of chances under Mourinho. Both Cucurella and Carreira are high-quality options for the manager, giving the club a luxury to have. As Madrid looks to extend their winning streak to eight games, Cucurella will aim to deliver a strong performance against Valencia.

The battle between him and Carreira for the starting position remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to see how the Spaniard fares in the upcoming season.