According to a report by Madrid Universal on Saturday, November 7, 2026, Real Madrid defender Marc Cucurella has spoken about the immense pressure and responsibility that come with playing for the Spanish giants, admitting that every match involving the club is treated as a special occasion.

The Spanish international, who joined Los Blancos during the summer transfer window, explained that representing Real Madrid is a unique experience because of the high expectations placed on the club.

As one of the biggest football institutions in the world, Real Madrid are often viewed as a major opponent, with matches against them carrying significant importance for other teams. Cucurella believes this is one of the factors that makes playing for the club different.

"Being a Real Madrid player means that every match against another team is hugely important to them, perhaps the biggest match of the year," Cucurella explained.

The defender also reflected on his previous encounters with Real Madrid during his time at Barcelona's famous La Masia academy.

Having developed through Barcelona's youth system, Cucurella understands the significance of facing Madrid as an opponent. He recalled how the build-up to those fixtures was always special, with supporters showing considerable interest in the matches.

"When I used to play against Madrid, that week was special: everyone wanted to come and see you, and they wrote to you," he recalled.

However, the situation has now changed for the Spaniard, who is experiencing the other side of the rivalry after becoming a Real Madrid player.

Despite recognising the pressure involved, Cucurella described the responsibility of winning every match as a positive part of representing the club.

"Ultimately, having the responsibility of winning every match is a wonderful thing and easy to handle," he added.

Meanwhile, Cucurella appears to be adapting well to life at the Santiago Bernabeu after a challenging start following his summer arrival.

The left-back has improved his performances in recent weeks and has gradually become Jose Mourinho's preferred option in the position.

His progress has also coincided with an improvement in Real Madrid's overall form, with the Spanish giants enjoying an impressive run of results under Mourinho.

However, Cucurella still faces competition from Alvaro Carreras, who has also delivered encouraging performances whenever he has been given opportunities by the Portuguese manager.

Carreras has demonstrated that he can compete for a regular starting role, meaning Cucurella must maintain his current form to remain Mourinho's first-choice left-back.

Having two quality options in the position also gives Madrid greater flexibility when selecting their starting lineup.

Cucurella will be looking to maintain his impressive performances when Real Madrid take on Valencia, with the club aiming to secure an eighth consecutive victory.

His ability to adapt to the expectations at the Bernabeu could become increasingly important as the season progresses. For the Spanish defender, the challenge goes beyond producing strong individual performances, as he must also embrace the winning mentality expected at a club where success is always the main objective.