Mourinho critiques Silva’s fitness following Real Madrid arrival
Jose Mourinho has taken aim at former Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, saying “he has to improve.” The Portuguese player joined Real Madrid on a free transfer, linking up with the squad late due to his run with Portugal in the World Cup, reports BritPanorama.
Silva made his debut for Real in a pre-season match against Ferencvaros of Hungary, where Mourinho expressed concern that his new signing appeared to be off the pace. He stated: “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.”
Despite his initial criticism, Mourinho praised Silva’s abilities, emphasizing his value to the team. “But Bernardo is a wonderful player who gives us excellent build-up with the ball, whether he plays in a deeper position or in midfield. 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 added.
Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid comes 13 years after his first spell with the club, a tenure marked by significant success. He aims to restore stability following a turbulent season where Real ended trophyless and struggled in both the Champions League and La Liga, finishing behind rivals Barcelona.
Alongside Silva, Mourinho has welcomed several new players, including Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella, and Yan Diomande, as he looks to manage a squad with substantial personalities. Real Madrid has won two out of their three friendlies, including a recent 2-1 victory against Ferencvaros.
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Mourinho noted, “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.” However, he acknowledged difficulties in the second half due to the inexperience of some players: “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 mentioned the significance of avoiding unnecessary mistakes in competitive matches: “You don’t finish the game by giving away a dangerous free kick like we did. You have to know what to do.”
Real Madrid have a couple of friendlies remaining against Deportivo and Schalke before their opening match of the season versus Espanyol. The first major league clash is scheduled against Atletico on September 20, with El Clasico taking place on October 25. In the meantime, Mourinho’s management style will likely continue to be scrutinized — a dialogue that rarely lacks intrigue in the world of football.
