According to Goal.com, Cucurella has voluntarily shouldered excessive defensive responsibilities to compensate for Vinicius's attacking freedom, but this has exposed vulnerabilities on Real Madrid's left flank and limited his own offensive contributions.

Voluntarily taking on the "dirty work" or difficult defensive tasks can sometimes backfire. Spanish outlet Sport reported that when Cucurella joined Real Madrid, he essentially gave Vinicius a "blank check" of sorts.

When Cucurella arrived at Real Madrid, he stated: "It doesn't matter if he doesn't track back to defend; I'll do everything he doesn't want to do. As long as he can keep deciding games and has the energy to score goals, I'll handle all the hard work." However, over time, this arrangement has proven problematic in practice.

While this statement reflected camaraderie, the reality on the pitch revealed a fundamental issue: there is a crucial difference between covering the spaces Vinicius vacates through his attacking freedom and genuinely defending an entire flank, which carries significant tactical risks.

Cucurella's start as left-back has been far from ideal. His predecessor Ferland Mendy faced similar challenges in this position last season, particularly in the Madrid derby; the gap between Cucurella and the central defenders has become a serious vulnerability in Real Madrid's defense.

In LaLiga matches, opponents have exploited attacks down the right flank. Atlético Madrid manager Simeone devised a specific tactical plan for the derby targeting Real Madrid's left side. With players like Pubill, Marcos Llorente, Kang-in Lee, and Giuliano positioned at varying depths, Cucurella faced a dilemma: if he pressed the ball carrier, runners would attack the space behind him; if he held his position, Atlético could advance through the middle.

When Vinicius was on the pitch, he did not always show the defensive intensity and focus required. After losing possession several times at the Metropolitano Stadium, he was reprimanded by coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Cucurella faced the same predicament: should he press the opponent in possession, or follow the runner making a forward run into space?

To compensate for the numerical disadvantage, Valverde and Tchouaméni had to adjust their positions, which exposed other defensive vulnerabilities. By the end of the derby, Cucurella had made 14 defensive actions—more than any other player on the pitch.

This statistic does not erase Cucurella's mistakes, but it explains why he so often found himself in difficult situations. When defensive problems arise, full-backs are frequently the first to be scrutinized, even though the issues often originate several meters ahead of them.

Under Ancelotti, Vinicius's defensive involvement and ball-recovery statistics in the final third have improved. The challenge is that once an opponent breaks through the first line of pressure, even with significant effort in the attacking third, Vinicius does not always drop back to cover and stop opposing attacks.

This sacrifice has also diminished the qualities Real Madrid initially expected from Cucurella. So far this season, Cucurella has not recorded a single assist in LaLiga; he is also overly cautious when advancing, as losing possession means a long run back to his defensive position.

Cucurella performs best not as a left-back who must remain close to the center-backs, but rather when he can operate further up the flank, make deep runs, and contribute in the attacking third.

This is how Cucurella proved his value with the Spanish national team. At the World Cup, for example, Vinicius benefited for years from a tactical system specifically designed to give him attacking freedom: Ferland Mendy anchored the defense, Kroos stabilized the left flank, and Benzema dropped deep to link with Vinicius. Cucurella, who is more offensive than the French defender, is now forced into a similar role but without the same protective structure.

Cucurella promised to do the defensive work Vinicius didn't want to do, ensuring the Brazilian could enter the box at full intensity and be decisive. However, this arrangement echoes a mistake once made under former coach Carlo Ancelotti, who claimed he would relieve Mbappé and other attacking teammates of unnecessary defensive duties.

The problem is that while Cucurella hopes Vinicius will deliver decisive performances, he also sacrifices much of his own attacking game and assumes tasks that don't necessarily align with his primary strengths. He voluntarily took on the "dirty work," but has ultimately paid the price.

Traduzido por IA.

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