According to a report from Daily Post Nigeria, on Monday October 26, 2024, José Mourinho praised Marc Cucurella’s defensive performance after Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2–1 at Camp Nou in Sunday’s El Clásico.

The left-back was given the responsibility of limiting Lamine Yamal, one of Barcelona’s most dangerous attacking players, and Mourinho felt he handled the challenge with composure.

Cucurella was selected ahead of Álvaro Carreras, who had featured in the team’s previous match. Mourinho said Yamal’s talent and intelligence made him difficult to contain, noting that the young winger could threaten opponents in several ways.

“The kid is very good and difficult because, besides being good, he’s clever,” Mourinho said. “He tried several times to provoke Cucu into getting a yellow card, but Cucu showed great resilience.”

The manager described the assignment as one of Cucurella’s toughest tests. He praised the defender for staying disciplined and preventing Yamal from having the influence Barcelona wanted.

Mourinho also highlighted the value of having two high-quality left-backs in his squad. Rotating them, he explained, helps manage their workload and keep players prepared for demanding fixtures. Carreras played on Wednesday, allowing Cucurella to approach El Clásico rested and focused.

The victory reflected a strong team effort, Mourinho added, but he singled out Cucurella’s individual contribution against a gifted opponent as especially important.