Speaking to El Partidazo de COPE after a run of eight consecutive victories with Madrid, the defender discussed the team's improvement, his admiration for Arda Güler and his recent battle with Lamine Yamal in El Clásico.
Cucurella was asked whether Madrid were now better than Paris Saint-Germain, but admitted he did not watch enough of the French side's matches to make a detailed comparison.
"Right now, us. We've come through a very good run and the team is very serious. Are we better than PSG? I don't watch many of their matches," he said.
One player who has particularly impressed Cucurella is Güler. While he acknowledged the quality of several of Madrid's established stars, including Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois, he singled out the Turkish midfielder as the player who has surprised him most.
"I could tell you Mbappé, Bellingham, Courtois... but I'm going to name someone I really like who goes a little unnoticed: Arda Güler," he explained.
"He plays a lot, he has so much quality. When he's on the pitch, the team plays better and we have more combination play. He's the one who has surprised me most."
Cucurella was also asked about the difference between defending against Vinícius and facing Yan Diomande, particularly whether the latter offered more help to his full-back.
He rejected that suggestion, arguing that Diomande's defensive work simply attracts more attention because of the way he carries it out.
"I don't think he helps me more. I think it's just more noticeable. Diomande makes one run back and it appears everywhere. Vinícius makes three runs and then there's one he doesn't make... and the one that gets shown is the one where he hasn't tracked back," Cucurella said.
He believes the attention surrounding Vinícius can overlook the extraordinary level the Brazilian has maintained over several seasons.
"If Vinícius scored three goals every match, nobody would say anything to him. The most important thing for us is that he gets back to his maximum level because, if he's at his prime, we have an incredible team."
Cucurella added that he had seen no lack of commitment from his team-mate despite the difficult period.
"Vinícius is a player who has been playing at an exceptional level for five years. You can understand that he's going through a bad spell now. I can see that he has the desire and that he tries in training, which is the important thing."
The defender also addressed the improvement in Madrid's collective performances. He acknowledged that the start of the campaign had been difficult, with a new coach and limited time to prepare, but suggested the team had become more compact and better at choosing when to press.
He was reluctant to attribute the change to a major tactical overhaul, instead pointing to better organisation and understanding between the players.
Cucurella also reflected on his duel with Lamine Yamal in the most recent Clásico. Asked about Yamal's pre-match comments, he refused to become involved in a verbal exchange.
"I don't have to say anything to Lamine. I don't like talking or showing off. I prefer to keep quiet and do my job. I had a good game and I'm sure I'll have to play against him many more times. I'll have to suffer, and he'll get the credit," he said.
He was equally complimentary about José Mourinho, describing the manager as more approachable than some might expect.
"His image is different, in a good way. He's very close to the players, a very good person and he likes to talk. He doesn't need to give half-hour speeches. In five minutes, he tells you what you need."
Finally, Cucurella defended Pablo Maffeo, whom he described as an intensely competitive opponent with a personality not entirely unlike his own.
"I know what Maffeo is like, and I'm a little like that myself. He's very intense, a bit of a madman. During the match he's very annoying, very intense, quite difficult to deal with, but afterwards we spoke and everything was fine. When the game finishes, it's over."
His comments offered a revealing insight into the atmosphere around Madrid, with Cucurella praising the team's form while making a strong case for Vinícius to be judged on his overall contribution rather than isolated moments.