According to Goal.com, Cucurella has voluntarily taken on extensive defensive duties to cover for Vinicius, but this has exposed vulnerabilities on Real Madrid's left flank and hindered Cucurella's own attacking contributions.

Taking on "dirty work" or difficult defensive responsibilities voluntarily can sometimes backfire. Catalan newspaper Sport reported that shortly after Cucurella joined Real Madrid, he effectively gave Vinicius a "blank check" to roam freely.

After joining Real Madrid, Cucurella stated: "It doesn't matter if he doesn't track back; I'll do everything he doesn't want to do. As long as he keeps determining matches and has enough energy to score goals, I'll handle all the hard work." However, this promise has proven increasingly difficult to deliver.

While this statement appeared to show team spirit, reality on the pitch has revealed a fundamental problem: there's a significant difference between covering the space Vinicius leaves due to his attacking freedom and defending an entire flank—a tactical gamble that carries inherent risks.

Cucurella's start as a left-back has been problematic. Carreras, who played in the same position last season, faced similar issues, particularly in the Madrid derby; the space between Cucurella and Huijsen repeatedly became a critical defensive vulnerability.

In La Liga matches, Real Betis exploited the left flank through Antony and Bellerín. Meanwhile, Atlético coach Simeone specifically designed an offensive plan targeting Real Madrid's left side for the derby. Pubill, M. Llorente, Lee Kang-in, and Giuliano positioned themselves at different depths, creating a dilemma for Cucurella: if he pressed the ball carrier, other attackers would exploit the space behind him; if he held his position, Atlético could penetrate through the middle.

When Vinicius returned to the pitch, he failed to show the required intensity and focus. After losing possession multiple times at the Metropolitano, he was criticized by coach Mourinho.

Cucurella faces a recurring dilemma: should he advance to press the ball carrier, or track runners moving into open space?

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

While this statistic doesn't absolve Cucurella of errors, it explains why he frequently finds himself in difficult situations. When defensive problems arise, fullbacks are often the first to be scrutinized, even though the issues often originate several meters ahead of them.

Under Mourinho, Vinicius's defensive stats—including pressing and ball recovery in the final third—have improved. The challenge lies in the fact that after opponents break through the initial press, Vinicius, despite his efforts in the final third, doesn't always track back to cover and stop opposing attacks.

This tactical sacrifice also diminishes the attacking qualities Real Madrid initially expected from Cucurella. So far, he has provided no assists in La Liga; he's also overly cautious when advancing forward, knowing that losing the ball means a long sprint back to his defensive position.

Cucurella's best form isn't as a left-back confined to staying close to the center-backs, but when he can roam along the flank, penetrate deep into the opposition half, and enter the attacking third.

This is how Cucurella proved his value for Spain. For instance, in the World Cup, Vinicius benefited for years from a tactical system specifically designed to give him freedom: Ferland Mendy served as the defensive anchor, Kroos stabilized the left side, and Benzema dropped deep to link with Vinicius. Cucurella, more attack-minded than the French fullback, is now forced into a similar role but without the same protective structure.

Cucurella promised to do the work Vinicius didn't want to do—to ensure the Brazilian could enter the penalty box with full energy and be decisive there.

This somewhat mirrors the "mistake" former coach Arbeloa made: he claimed he would spare Mbappé and other attacking teammates from unnecessary running.

The problem is that while Cucurella waits for Vinicius to deliver a decisive performance, he's also sacrificing aspects of his own game and taking on responsibilities that aren't always primarily his. He voluntarily accepted the "dirty work" but has ended up bearing the consequences.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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