Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho discussed the integration of summer signing Bernardo Silva following their 2-1 El Clasico victory. Mourinho explained how blending different midfield profiles provides Los Blancos with superior tactical balance.
Mourinho manages midfielder workloads at Camp Nou
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho highlighted squad depth and tactical midfield combinations following a hard-fought 2-1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona. Summer arrival Bernardo Silva started in central midfield, working tirelessly for 75 minutes before being replaced by Eduardo Camavinga.
Camavinga went on to assist Kylian Mbappe's 88th-minute match-winner.
Mourinho emphasized that every member of his deep roster must remain ready to impact games.
Manager details Bernardo Silva's integration process
Mourinho offered a clear assessment of Bernardo's ongoing adaptation to Real Madrid's team dynamic. "Regarding Bernardo’s situation, I’ve said that he’s been here for a little over three months," Mourinho noted.
"Obviously, I know him very well, but knowing someone very well is one thing, and seeing how he can integrate into the team dynamic is another."
"The group is very strong. I’ll never tell you, ‘This is my starting eleven’... everyone works very hard," he asserted.
Tactical balance demands specific midfield profiles
Mourinho explained his preference for mixing tactical characteristics rather than deploying identical profiles together in central midfield. "I’ve learned that in midfield, having a combination of talents gives us more than having two players with similar characteristics," Mourinho revealed.
"This means that I don’t use the double pivot of Bernardo with Guler, or only in desperate situations."
"I prefer this combination of talents, which gives us balance when defending and more quality when launching attacks," he added.
Real Madrid options keep title rivals guessing
Mourinho's tactical flexibility allows Real Madrid to adapt smoothly depending on opponent setups and match contexts.
With Bernardo, Camavinga, Guler, and Tchouameni vying for spots, midfield competition remains high.
Real Madrid turn their attention to Santander in their next La Liga test.
A sports journalist with nearly a decade of experience, beginning the professional journey at Indonesia's legendary Tabloid BOLA from 2017 until its final print edition in December 2018. Following that, joining GOAL, contributing as a freelance writer for FIFA, and working within the media department of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Alongside the journalism career, also active as a live play-by-play commentator for Indonesian football since 2017. Holds a bachelor's degree in History from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung.
Football Story
Footballing identity built on geography, heritage, and childhood obsession. Although the father played for a traditional rival club, nine years living in Bandung made Persib a spiritual home, sparked in 2006 by Thai goalkeeper Kosin Hathairattanakool and witnessing firsthand how deeply locals own the club. Globally, the first true love was Ronaldo and Inter Milan, enduring the heartbreak of near-misses during injury-plagued years. With Dutch roots in Rotterdam, making Feyenoord the club of choice, the Netherlands national team has always remained close to the heart, highlighted by the 2010 World Cup final, a live 2013 friendly against Indonesia, and Oranje Indonesia watch parties. Arjen Robben and Giovanni van Bronckhorst remain ultimate favorites, while Football Manager 2005 sparked a lasting admiration for Athletic Bilbao’s philosophy. Outside football, allegiance lies with the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors through icons like Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, and Stephen Curry.
Areas of Expertise
Areas of expertise span Indonesian football and Liga 1 data insights and unique features, alongside Southeast Asian and East Asian football landscapes covering Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. Additional skills include digital and social media video content creation such as Instagram reels and podcasts, as well as player profiling, feature writing, live broadcasting, interviewing, photography, and multilingual communication in basic français and español .
Favourite Footballing Memory
Combining a passion for backpacking with professional assignments has made it possible to pursue two goals simultaneously. Meeting and interviewing various Indonesian players pursuing careers or currently based abroad, ranging from across Southeast Asia to Europe, has been an absolute privilege and honor. Traveling independently through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, and Japan to track down and connect with Indonesian players competing abroad remains a truly cherished experience. Crafting interview content with them is a body of work that will always hold a special place in memory.
My All-Time XI
It’s tough to lock down a definitive starting XI, but the non-negotiables are Manuel Neuer or Rogério Ceni in goal; alongside Javier Zanetti, Sergio Ramos, N'Golo Kanté, Toni Kroos, Arjen Robben, Mo Salah, and Zlatan Ibrahimović. Juan Román Riquelme or Michael Laudrup most likely complete the tactical puzzle. While legends like Lothar Matthäus, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo are impossible to overlook, they were left out simply because they feature in everyone else's lineup.
