Real Madrid manager José Mourinho called for midfield reinforcements after his team earned a 2-1 friendly victory over Ferencvaros in Budapest on Sunday.
Carlos Espí needed just four minutes to score for Real Madrid in the match. The victory was Real Madrid's first of the preseason, coming one week after a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina in their opening friendly.
Mourinho described the game as a good training session against a Ferencvaros team that was much more match-fit and already playing in Europa League qualifying rounds.
Match performance and tactical errors
Speaking to club station RMTV after the game, Mourinho explained that making mistakes during preseason was more important than doing everything right. He said that errors allowed him to analyze problems together with the squad and make continuous improvements.
He pointed to a specific moment in the 47th minute when Real Madrid were leading 2-1. Mourinho noted that when a team is winning at that stage of a match, players must know how to manage the game rather than making a vertical pass, losing possession, and conceding a dangerous foul near the end.
Mourinho stated that accumulating small errors in early matches was positive for his evaluation of the squad. He admitted that he preferred the performance in the first half over the display in the second half.
He explained that the first-half lineup featured players who had been working together for longer and had played previous matches. That group showed better connection on the pitch and maintained strong control of the game.
The second half saw the introduction of Vinicius and Bernardo Silva, who lacked match sharpness after completing only two days of training. Mourinho added that shifting Endrick to a different position during the second half also caused the team to lose some of its tactical organization.
Player fitness and position changes
Mourinho expressed happiness over the contract renewal of Vinicius, describing the extension as a source of joy for the player and the entire squad.
He acknowledged that both Vinicius and Bernardo entered the match with heavy legs, feeling the fatigue of intense physical work over the previous weeks. Mourinho admitted that he did not expect Vinicius to run 50 meters with the ball and score a goal during his first game back.
Mourinho noted that building fitness is a process. He predicted that Vinicius would show improvement by next Wednesday and achieve even better physical condition next Sunday when Real Madrid play Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen.
Mourinho praised Bernardo Silva as a tremendous player but stressed that he returned from his summer break needing to improve his physical condition. He explained that while taking time off completely during holidays was beneficial for Bernardo's mindset, the player arrived at a much lower fitness baseline and must now build up his workload.
Mourinho explained that Bernardo provides quality ball progression when playing in deeper midfield roles such as position six or position eight. However, after noticing that Bernardo lacked physical strength during the game, Mourinho pushed him forward into the position ten role and brought on Cestero to restore stability in midfield.
Squad depth and transfer request
Mourinho highlighted that the number ten position is another role where Bernardo feels comfortable, noting that he is the type of player capable of interpreting three or four different positions. He emphasized that having versatile players is essential for a manager who wants a compact squad.
The Portuguese coach stated that he wants a short squad of 20 players, in addition to long-term injured players Rodrigo, Militao, and Ferland Mendy, whom he does not expect to recover in the coming weeks.
Mourinho concluded by issuing a warning about Real Madrid's midfield depth, stating that the squad needs another player who can perform multiple roles like Bernardo. Observers viewed his remarks as a request for the club to sign an additional midfielder who can function as an anchor.
