Bernardo Silva, the new captain of the Portuguese National Team, made a statement at the press conference about the new era that started after Cristiano Ronaldo's farewell to the national team.
How do you feel about the responsibility of replacing someone who captained the Portuguese National Team for 20 years? You also captained against Luxembourg in 2023. But how do you feel in this role as the new captain of the national team?
"This is a natural process. I had the pleasure of playing with Cristiano here in the national team for 12 years. He was always our captain. Now that Cristiano has said goodbye to the national team, it is up to us, older or more experienced players, to help our younger friends maintain their commitment and the work culture in the locker room. This is a great honor. Being one of the captains is an indication that I have been here for a long time, I have represented the national team for years and I know very well what it takes to be successful and win. I want to fulfill this duty to the best of my ability." “I will work with great pride.”
How will you behave in your new responsibility?
"I will continue to have the same attitude as I have throughout my career. I am aware that I am more experienced now. I have had the pleasure and pride of being a captain before. However, this task is never the responsibility of a single person. It is a group effort, especially with the contribution of experienced players.
It is important to maintain a balance in the locker room between the competition between us and the great respect we have for each other. It's always good to have competition within the team. While we compete with each other, we must also respect each other. Maintaining this balance is very easy with this group of players because we are a great team. We are like a family here and I'm sure everything will go very well.
This is a sad moment. Cristiano has 23 years with the national team. I have been here for 12 years and I have only known the national team with Cristiano. A different era will begin for all of us. This day would come sooner or later. Personally, I am sad because it was a great honor and pride for me to share the same locker room with him. "From now on, we will continue our path in its natural flow and try to maintain the success line that the national team has achieved in recent years."
You reunited with Jorge Jesus in the national team. You played under his management at Benfica. Have you talked about that incident when Jesus was considering playing you as a left-back at Benfica? Also, did you ever think that one day you would be the captain of a team coached by Jorge Jesus?
"Of course [laughs]. All of these have been a part of my career journey. I don't regret anything I have done in my career. I am ready to play in every position in the national team, including the goalkeeper. So this will never be a problem.
Honestly no, I never thought of it that way. I don't make calculations about who will be my coach in two, five or ten years. What I can say is that both me and Jorge Jesus are very determined to help the national team and work together to make things work in the best possible way.”
You stay on the bench in the Nations League matches and get little playing time. How do you cope with this situation, which you are not used to in your career, especially in the context of the national team?
"It's always a difficult situation because all players want to play, be part of the team and be useful. I've gotten used to that throughout my career. I'm used to contributing to the team and playing. Needless to say, it's difficult when I can't play.
It is even more difficult for the coach to make a choice in this process. There are 27 players in the squad and only 11 people can be on the field at a time. For this reason, it is very difficult to make a selection in a national team with very talented players.
For me, what I can guarantee is that I will always do my best, work to improve and be ready to help the national team whenever it needs it. Five minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes or 90 minutes... Of course, like all players, I want to play and feel useful to the team.”
You played in various positions throughout your career in the national team and different clubs. Today you are in a different position at Real Madrid. What does Jorge Jesus want from you for your role on the field in the national team?
"I think I've changed a lot as a player throughout my career. In the beginning, I saw myself as a much more free and creative player. That's why I played close to the line for many years, and at times as a false forward.
Now I don't know exactly why, but I've become a bit more cautious, a more thoughtful player. I'm quite different from where I was 10 years ago. This change led me to positions further back in midfield.
However, I am always ready to help both the national team and my club in any position the coach deems necessary. The answer to this question should be given by the coach, but I think he sees me as number 8, number 10 or a player who connects defense and attack. Not as a football player playing on the line.
"A player who maintains the balance between defense and attack, makes the transition between the two zones, helps both pressure in front and defense in the back... I think the role the coach expects from me is this player profile that does a little bit of everything."
Does taking part in the press conference before this match mean that you can play in the starting 11 tomorrow?
“Not necessarily so. We will see. As I said before, I am ready to play for as long as the coach deems necessary. "It doesn't matter if it's five minutes, 30 minutes or 90 minutes."
This time, a larger squad has been announced and there are many young players, including those who have been called up to the national team for the first time. Was there a name that influenced you? Do you feel more responsible for their adaptation to the team?
“We don't need to talk about the talent of Portuguese football. Extraordinary quality players are produced every year and we see this. The young players you mentioned are already playing in big clubs. For example, Mateus Fernandes and Quenda, who play for two big clubs in England, come to my mind.
Therefore, the quality and talent of Portuguese football players no longer surprise me. As for responsibility, as I said before, it is our duty as experienced players to welcome them and make them feel at home. In this way, they can demonstrate their talents in training with happiness and dedication. Of course, we feel responsible in this regard.”
In Cristiano Ronaldo's presence, much of the attention and pressure was on him. Do you think there will now be more pressure and responsibility on Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and other leading players of the team?
“In terms of interest, maybe yes. Because everyone knows how big the impact Cristiano makes when he steps on the field. Most of the people who came to the stadium came to watch Cristiano, some even just wanted to see him. It probably won't be like that anymore. This situation may be felt a little more in the national team.
But on the other hand, the players in our national team are already accustomed to the attention, pressure, responsibility and criticism in their clubs when things do not go their way. So I don't think it will be a big problem.”
The Portuguese National Team has not been able to achieve great success in European and world championships for a long time, apart from the Nations League, and has been falling behind its goals. Do you think that the national team will get closer to the target level with Jorge Jesus' understanding of the game and his appointment?
“I hope so, of course. The first four matches were a very good indicator. The national team has improved and reached a better level. We hope this progress continues. Because we must not hide that the last tournaments were disappointments and failures. We wanted to go much further.
We hope that these positive indicators that emerged in September and October will continue to get stronger and the national team will reach the high level we want to reach. So we can fight for trophies. Because in the end, this is our biggest goal.”
