Valverde: I Struggled Against Silva, and That's Great

Federico Valverde, captain of Real Madrid, expressed his great happiness after the 2-1 victory over Ferencváros in the friendly match held in Budapest, noting that achieving victory remains important even in preparatory matches.

Valverde said: "We won, and that is the most important thing even if it was a friendly match. The coach and the team want to win and continue achieving victories. The team felt good, and there are still many players missing, but the dynamics and energy we showed for a large part of the match were very good. We gave a lot, and that’s what the coach wanted."

Regarding his physical condition, Real Madrid's captain stated: "I felt that I was in good shape. Of course, I was tired in the final minutes, but I was giving what the coach wants from me. My teammates also had a good match, and that makes me feel proud. We are still preparing ourselves for what lies ahead this season, and we are happy with the match and the victory."

Regarding wearing the captain's armband: "It's wonderful, and I enjoy it. When the match starts, I hope it never ends because I enjoy it so much, and I live it with great excitement and happiness. This is a dream I am fulfilling today. When you are a child, you always dream of playing for the best club in the world and being able to wear the captain's armband, to be a role model for all your teammates is very beautiful. I enjoy this responsibility, and when we win, it feels so much better."

Reflecting on his first weeks under José Mourinho, Valverde said: "It's been wonderful, and I'm enjoying it. I'm trying to learn from him every day, growing as a player, person, and leader, while also absorbing the ideas he brings, so the team feels comfortable and happy on the pitch. I'm trying to pass that on to my teammates so they feel the same way."

Regarding Vinicius: "We all know the quality of the player he represents for us and how important he is."

He also spoke about the new arrival Bernardo Silva, saying: "Bernardo is a fantastic player, amazing. I always enjoyed watching him when I faced him as a competitor, and I struggled against him. Today, he is my teammate in the dressing room. He is a great person, despite the short time we have spent together."