Tactical shake-up: Bernardo Silva trains with defenders under Jorge Jesus
In his first training session as Portugal manager, Jorge Jesus placed Bernardo Silva in a defensive group, echoing a controversial tactical experiment from their time together at Benfica.
Jorge Jesus' inaugural training session as Portugal national team coach has stirred significant intrigue. During the squad's assembly at the Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, the manager divided his outfield players into distinct tactical units, with Bernardo Silva notably training alongside defenders and defensive midfielders, including Joao Palhinha and Ruben Neves.
The training setup immediately recalled the 2014–15 pre-season at Benfica, where a 19-year-old Bernardo was deployed as a left-back by Jesus. At the time, the player viewed the positional change as a lack of faith in his midfield potential, leading to his eventual departure to Monaco. While Jesus later clarified that the move was merely a temporary tactical adjustment, the recurrence of this dynamic has captured attention.
According to O Jogo, while Bernardo worked with the defensive block, other creative players such as Vitinha and Joao Neves were integrated directly into the attacking line. Goalkeepers completed separate drills, leaving the outfield structure as a clear indicator of Jesus' hands-on approach to positional versatility.
The exercise highlights the manager's commitment to defensive organization as he builds a foundation for the national team. Portugal continue their preparations at Cidade do Futebol, aiming to adapt quickly to the tactical demands of the new coaching staff ahead of their upcoming fixtures.