Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has expressed concern over Bernardo Silva's physical condition following his debut for the club. Mourinho, who returned to the Bernabeu this summer, identified Silva as a key target to improve standards and behavior within the squad after a trophyless season.
Silva joined the team later than others due to his participation in the World Cup with Portugal. He made his first appearance in a pre-season friendly against Ferencvaros, where Mourinho noted his lack of match fitness.
"Bernardo Silva? He's a very important player for us. But the poor guy, when he goes on vacation, he likes to disconnect completely, he doesn't do any work," Mourinho stated. "So he arrived for pre-season with much lower physical fitness, and he has to improve."
Despite these remarks, Mourinho acknowledged Silva's significant contributions. "Bernardo is a wonderful player who gives us excellent build-up with the ball, whether he plays in a deeper position or in midfield (the 6 or 8 position)," he added. "During the match I saw that he lacks physical strength, so I moved him to the 10 position. He can play there too. He can play in three or four positions."
Mourinho's side secured a 2-1 victory in the match, which was their fourth pre-season friendly. The team is preparing for further matches against Deportivo and Schalke before commencing their LaLiga season against Espanyol on August 22.
While pleased with the team's overall progress, Mourinho highlighted areas for refinement. "I liked the first half more. It doesn’t surprise me because we have been working more with those players. We had very good control of the game," he commented. "In the second half, with Vini and Bernardo, who don’t have many minutes, and with Endrick changing positions, we lost some of our organisation. But it’s good."
He also pointed to minor errors that need addressing. "You don’t finish the game by giving away a dangerous free kick like we did. You have to know what to do. Those small mistakes that accumulate in these games are good for me."
Silva recently departed Manchester City after nine years, describing his journey as "unbelievable" and expressing strong gratitude to the club and its fans. He stated his intention to remain a supporter of Manchester City for the rest of his life.
