Jose Mourinho, the head coach of Real Madrid, reflected on his team’s 2-1 victory over Ferencvaros in a friendly match held in Budapest on Saturday night.
The Spanish side triumphed against the Hungarian vice-champions with goals from 19-year-old Mario Rivas, a promising talent from the academy, and Carlos Espi, who was signed this summer for €25 million. Kodro managed to score for Ferencvaros in the 57th minute, finalizing the score.
Mourinho Praises Ferencvaros and Analyzes Team Performance
Mourinho expressed gratitude to Ferencvaros, stating, “First of all, I want to thank Ferencvaros for this excellent training session. They have already played five matches in the Europa League, and it shows they have a high intensity in their game, so it was a good test. I preferred the first half to the second, although that doesn’t surprise me.”
He noted that the starting line-up had more practice together, which led to better cohesion and control during the first half. However, in the second half, players like Vini and Bernardo entered the match having had limited training, which affected the team’s organization.
Mourinho on Bernardo Silva’s Fitness
All eyes were on Bernardo Silva, who made his debut for Real Madrid, and while Mourinho praised the midfielder, he acknowledged that Silva needs to improve his physical condition.
“Bernardo is very important, but unfortunately, he came back from vacation and is the type of player who benefits from being active during this time. As a result, he showed up in quite poor physical shape. He will need to step it up, but he is a fantastic player who helps us transition from defense if he plays deeper, as a number 6 or number 8.”
Mourinho recognized Silva’s lack of physical strength during the match, which prompted him to reposition him as a number 10 to enhance stability on the field.
Further Insights from Mourinho
On Vinicius, who will continue with Madrid, Mourinho stated, “The most important thing is extending Vinicius’s contract. It’s important for him, but it’s also a joy for all of us. He and Bernardo have trained very little.”
He noted that some players, including Vinicius, were entering the match fatigued due to the rigorous training they had undergone. Mourinho expects Vinicius to perform better in upcoming matches as he regains his form.
Lastly, he outlined his vision for the squad, indicating a preference for a tight group of 20 players, plus those injured for extended periods, such as Rodrygo, Militao, or Mendy. In a compact squad, having versatile players like Bernardo is essential.
