Cucurella calls Maffeo “intense” and “quite obnoxious” on the pitch

Marc Cucurella described Pablo Maffeo as “intense and quite obnoxious” during a match, while stressing that this attitude does not carry on once the game is over. The defender spoke about their exchange after Saturday’s Valencia-Real Madrid match, which Real Madrid won 3-0. The following day, Cucurella was asked about the tensions on the pitch and Maffeo’s part in some of the incidents.

Cucurella said he had known Maffeo for a long time and recognised something of himself in that temperament. He called him a “very intense” player, adding that they had spoken after the match and that the hostility of the game ended with the final whistle. Cucurella also said he liked the contrast between Maffeo’s behaviour during a match and his manner afterwards. He described himself as a player who can also be persistent and intense.

Maffeo’s reaction at half-time had been sharper. Before the reporter had properly asked his question, he made clear that he did not want to answer. He then objected to an interview he considered out of place while the teams were playing a match. Maffeo said he had been told the interview was compulsory and eventually agreed to take part, although he felt too heated to speak calmly.

He also questioned the refereeing in the first half, particularly a free-kick awarded after an incident involving Kylian Mbappé in the build-up to Real Madrid’s opening goal. Mbappé scored Real Madrid’s third in the 75th minute to complete the 3-0 win.

After the match, Maffeo said he approached the reporter to explain his reaction and make clear that it was not personal. Reporter Sergio Quirante later confirmed that Maffeo had come over to apologise. Maffeo wrote: “I want to apologise if anyone has taken my reaction personally.” He also said he had no intention of disrespecting anyone, describing his message as an effort to clarify the circumstances of the interview: “My only objective is to clarify how things happened.”