Marc Cucurella says Real Madrid’s demanding fans drive the team forward

Marc Cucurella described his first night at the Santiago Bernabeu as a memorable occasion after Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1, while praising Jose Mourinho’s work and insisting the club’s demanding supporters can bring out the best in the squad.

Wednesday’s match was Cucurella’s first appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu as a Real Madrid player. The defender was also recognised for his performances at the most recent World Cup, making the evening particularly significant.

During the presentation, Mikel Oyarzabal allowed Cucurella to stand alone in front of the supporters, creating an amusing moment for the new signing.

“He left me there alone, out in the open (laughs), but it’s fine, I’m happy. It was a very important and special day,” Cucurella said.

“I don’t think you can ask for more: to receive this recognition in a stadium like this, in front of our supporters, and then to see the team win after producing such a great performance. It’s a very beautiful day for me.”

It has already been a remarkable year for Cucurella, who has won the World Cup, moved to Real Madrid and now presented the trophy at the Bernabeu.

“[It is true] that a lot of things are happening, but I’m very happy and enjoying every moment,” he said. “To get here and achieve all of this, I had to work hard. I think this is a reward for all the work I have done, and I hope we can enjoy more happy moments together.”

Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham were among Real Madrid’s most prominent performers against Real Sociedad. Cucurella stressed that the understanding between the attacking players would be central to the team’s progress.

“They are very important; they can cause danger from anywhere and they are capable of scoring goals,” he said. “They were decisive and played a great match, but apart from the goals, we must also highlight the effort they made: how they pressed and how they ran until they were substituted.”

He added: “Little by little, we will get to know one another better, continue improving and do what the manager asks of us. It’s a great start.”

Cucurella also addressed the reaction of the Bernabeu crowd, where some supporters voiced their dissatisfaction despite the convincing victory.

“We understand that the fans are very demanding,” he said. “They have watched great players, great matches and seen many trophies won. This is not a bad thing [the occasional jeering]. It motivates us and reminds us that we cannot relax.

“The supporters want us to give everything for this shirt. When we give our best, we may win on some days and may not win on others, but in the end the results will come.”

Asked about the team and Mourinho’s management, Cucurella said he was pleased with the direction of the side and believed the manager’s methods were beginning to produce results.

“I’m very happy. He is doing a great job, and little by little we are seeing the results of our work,” he said. “There are some players we have not had enough time to prepare, but he is managing the situation extremely well.

“We have a very talented squad, and it does not matter who plays. The important thing is that we are always ready and give our best for the team.”

Cucurella has also kept a promise by getting a tattoo commemorating the World Cup. Asked whether he would have the energy for another tattoo if Real Madrid won the Champions League, he replied: “We’ll see. Things do not always go as we want, and you have to keep your promises. What I promised had to be done, and I’m very happy. That would be a great achievement. We’ll see.”

Reflecting on his Bernabeu debut, he added: “Things went well. I think I was going to take a shot, but things became a little complicated and it was gradually ruled out. It was my first match here and I’m happy with my performance. We achieved a great result, and hopefully we can repeat it on Sunday against Malaga.”