According to a report by Madrid Universal on Monday October 26, 2026, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has explained why Bernardo Silva is an important part of his midfield plans, insisting that combining different player profiles is essential to achieving the right tactical balance.

Mourinho made the comments after Real Madrid secured a reported 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico, with the Portuguese manager discussing Bernardo's adaptation to the team and the importance of having several midfield options available.

Bernardo started the encounter in central midfield and worked for 75 minutes before being replaced by Eduardo Camavinga, who later provided the assist for Kylian Mbappe's late winning goal.

The performance highlighted the importance of Madrid's squad depth, with Mourinho able to introduce fresh legs and different qualities from the bench when the game demanded it.

Speaking about Bernardo's progress, Mourinho explained that although he was already familiar with the midfielder's abilities, integrating him into a new team structure required time.

"Regarding Bernardo’s situation, I’ve said that he’s been here for a little over three months," Mourinho said.

He added that knowing a player well was different from understanding how that individual could fit into the team's overall dynamic.

The manager's comments suggest that Bernardo's importance extends beyond his technical ability, with his role also depending on how effectively he combines with the other midfielders.

Mourinho believes that selecting the right combination of players is crucial to ensuring Madrid remain competitive in both attacking and defensive situations.

"I’ve learned that in midfield, having a combination of talents gives us more than having two players with similar characteristics," he explained.

The Real Madrid boss also revealed that he prefers not to deploy Bernardo alongside Arda Guler in a double pivot, except in difficult circumstances when other options may be limited.

"I prefer this combination of talents, which gives us balance when defending and more quality when launching attacks," Mourinho added.

His approach reflects the importance of having midfielders who complement one another rather than simply selecting players based on individual reputation or technical quality.

Bernardo offers close control, intelligent movement and the ability to retain possession under pressure, qualities that can help Madrid progress the ball and create openings against organised defences.

However, Mourinho must also ensure that his midfield has enough defensive protection to prevent opponents from exploiting spaces when Madrid push forward.

That is where players such as Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni could prove particularly important, offering different strengths that can be used depending on the demands of a match.

Guler, meanwhile, provides another creative option, giving Mourinho greater flexibility when Madrid need to increase their attacking threat.