Spain will face the mighty Germany in the upcoming quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa League at 0:00 a.m. Beijing time on Saturday. Prior to the match, Cucurelia, the rising star of the Spanish team, was interviewed by Daily Sport, sharing his feelings during the Euros as well as his thoughts on the likes of young teammates Nico Williams and Yamal.
Cucurelia began by expressing his joy at being the center of the team's attention, "I'm happy that people are starting to talk about me and that the talk is positive. It's true that this season has been a bit tough for me, but I'm in good shape and am trying to contribute to the team." He specifically mentioned the match against Italy as one of the best matches he has played so far, not only because of his personal performance, but also because the team won.
When asked if he felt he could be compared to the legendary Puyol, Cucurelia showed humility: "No, I am far from being compared to Puyol. He is a great player and role model and I respect him a lot. All the comparisons are encouraging, but I need to keep working hard to get close to his heights."
Cucurelia showed a light-hearted humor when talking about his hair. He stated that he doesn't mind people talking about his hair, even including some emojis, as long as the talk is positive and brings laughter. He also revealed that he grew up with curly hair, which was his mom's favorite hairstyle, so he kept it. To the question of whether he can scare strikers with his hairstyle, he replied with a smile, "Everything helps, but it mostly depends on what I do on the field."
Speaking about spending time with his younger teammates, Cucurelia said the team has a great atmosphere and that the combination of youngsters and veterans makes the team more dynamic. "The youngsters are very lively and their naivety and the things they do help us relax and bring the whole team together." He singled out Nico Williams and Yamal as very good players.
On Nico Williams, Cucurelia spoke highly of him, "He is a very good player and is reaching his full potential. Partnering him makes me feel very relaxed because he always contributes to the team at crucial moments." When asked if Williams is ready to join Barcelona, Cucurelia said that it is entirely up to Williams' own decision, but he believes that Williams will continue to grow and become a great player wherever he goes.
As for Yamal, Cucurelia showed his admiration, "Yamal's performance was really incredible, considering his age, his running and decision-making skills were excellent. His best trait is that he never repeats the same moves and is always changing, which makes it very difficult for me and other defenders."
