Cucurella on Real Madrid's start: "There are things we are doing wrong"

Marc Cucurella has used the international break to take stock of his first weeks as a Real Madrid player. The left-back, currently with Spain preparing for the Nations League fixtures, was clear in pointing out that the team still has issues to fix in this early part of the campaign, and that the squad is well aware of the habits that need correcting on the pitch.

• Cucurella admits Real Madrid attacks too quickly and loses control in certain phases of matches.
• The full-back explains that his link with Vinicius is still developing due to a lack of shared training sessions.
• He says Mourinho has surprised him with his closeness and positive mood on a daily basis.
• He believes the season will be decided in the final months and that the team will improve its balance.
• He acknowledges full-backs reach the box less because forwards have already finished the move.

Cucurella's honest take on Real Madrid's early form

The Spain international did not avoid the uncomfortable questions. Despite a promising start, the run of games before the international break left mixed feelings, and he put it into words naturally: not everything is working as it should be.

There are things to improve, things we are doing wrong and that we need to fix. We are all in the same boat and we can all see there are areas to work on.

Cucurella pointed to the team's attacking management as one of the key areas to refine. Real Madrid tends to push forward too fast, which stretches the side, removes patience from the game, and gives space away. He framed it not as an attitude problem, but as a natural phase of adjusting to a very direct style.

The connection with Vinicius is still developing

One of the main topics of the interview was his understanding with Vinicius on the left flank. The defender explained that they have barely had opportunities to train together because since his arrival almost every session has been geared toward official matches, with no preseason involved. That makes it harder to build the automatic movements that previous full-backs already had in place.

Still, he highlighted the Brazilian's commitment. Cucurella noted that Vinicius is putting in defensive work that does not come naturally to him, given that his talent lies elsewhere, and that this willingness is a solid foundation for the partnership to grow.

Why full-backs are less involved in attack

The former Chelsea man explained in detail one of the tactical consequences of Real Madrid's current approach: full-backs appear less in the final third because once the ball is recovered, the attackers are already gone.

Vini, Mbappé and Bellingham love to run, and when we win the ball back they are already going forward, so it is harder for the full-backs to reach the byline because there is no time.

That dynamic, in his view, forces defenders to adapt to a breakneck transition pace. At the same time, he believes the forwards themselves will also need to adjust certain movements so the team does not split apart when an attack does not end in a goal.

Mourinho's impact on his adaptation

Cucurella made no secret of his surprise with the coach. He knew José Mourinho from television, but day-to-day contact has revealed a different side: approachable, in good spirits, and attentive to the group. The full-back said he is delighted to begin this chapter under his guidance and confident it will be successful.

That connection with the manager gives him a base from which to face the improvement process. Cucurella believes the dressing room is united, eager to end the trophy drought of the past two seasons, and talented enough to compete for every title.

What is at stake for Real Madrid in the coming months

Cucurella's message was one of strategic calm. He accepts that everyone would love to win every match by a big scoreline, but he insists that the priority now is to build a strong foundation. For him, the season will be decided in the final stretch, and nobody will remember a shaky start if the ending delivers what the club demands.

The defender sees encouraging signs in the squad: high individual quality, collective commitment, and renewed energy after two campaigns without silverware. The challenge, from his perspective, is to find the balance between running and controlling, between attacking quickly and knowing when to slow the game down with possession.

Frequently asked questions about Cucurella and Real Madrid