Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has praised defender Marc Cucurella for his defensive display against Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal in Sunday’s El Clásico.
Mourinho acknowledged the Spanish defender’s ability to remain composed when facing one of the best footballers in the game.
Cucurella reportedly delivered an outstanding performance at left-back, helping Real Madrid secure a 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou.
The Spanish defender was selected ahead of Álvaro Carreras to counter the threat posed by Barcelona winger Yamal.
Cucurella limited Yamal’s effectiveness throughout the 90-minute contest, preventing the youngster from creating opportunities in dangerous attacking areas.
After the match, Mourinho acknowledged that containing Yamal was one of Cucurella’s most demanding assignments.
He said: “The kid is very good and difficult because, besides being good, he’s clever.
“He made multiple attempts to provoke Cucu into receiving a yellow card, yet Cucu demonstrated remarkable resilience.
“The victory reflected collective excellence, though this was arguably Cucu’s most difficult match, and he prevailed against an exceptionally talented opponent.”
Mourinho also emphasised that strategic player rotation was instrumental in ensuring Cucurella remained physically and mentally prepared for the demanding fixture.
“We have two top-level left-backs, which also allows me to manage playing time a bit,” Mourinho noted.
“Álvaro participated in Wednesday’s fixture, which has ensured Cucu maintains optimal physical condition and mental concentration, directing his attention exclusively towards this particular match.”