Brahim Diaz starting on the bench for Real Madrid's La Liga opener came as a surprise, particularly after he had featured so regularly through pre-season. Yet his exclusion never spiralled into a crisis, thanks to the mutual trust between the player and Jose Mourinho.
Sources close to the player told Spanish outlet "Defensa Central" that he felt no anger or resentment over being left out against Elche. He understood the Portuguese coach's decision to hand Bellingham the starting role, then to introduce new signing Yan Diomande in the second half ahead of him.
Naturally, he wants to play. But the Madrid man feels his standing within the squad and knows Mourinho rates him, especially since the coach told him a start is coming in the next match against Real Sociedad. That reassurance keeps him calm and focused on proving his worth.
Competition for a place in the Madrid side will be fierce, and Brahim knows it, with so many high-calibre players fighting for minutes. As he put it: "The best players are here, and it is difficult even to get a chance to play".
Mourinho hands Brahim a flexible tactical role, viewing him as capable of covering more than one position. In matches where the team needs someone to drop into midfield and help control the game, that versatility could open up more space for him across the season.
Diomande's arrival does not spell a decline in Brahim's role either. The technical staff believe the Spaniard can perform several of the jobs the new man was expected to handle, depending on the demands of each game and Mourinho's tactical needs.
Early in the campaign, the Portuguese coach is reluctant to pass final judgement on his players' roles. He has spoken to members of the squad about their initial tasks, with room to adjust them according to the level each man delivers.
Brahim may begin in something short of a starting berth. But Mourinho has promised him plenty of opportunities and minutes, which turns the Real Sociedad clash into an early chance for the midfielder to prove he deserves a bigger place in the coach's plans.