José Mourinho: 'I don't have deep feelings for Tottenham'

Bernardo Silva admitted that "striking the balance between controlling a match and not being boring is tough" following his side's 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig on matchday three of the Champions League league phase.

"We are a team with players who are individually very aggressive in one-on-one situations, who love to dribble and attack the space. You have to strike the balance between keeping possession and pushing forward, being direct. That balance between controlling the game and not becoming a boring side, staying intense and aggressive, is difficult and demands immense preparation," he told 'Movistar Plus+'.

"I'm thrilled to have won this game and scored my first goal in this shirt. It was a tough contest; we performed much better in the second half than the first. Before the break, we allowed them too many chances and Thibaut proved vital," noted the Portuguese playmaker, who completed his first full 90 minutes and opened his account for the 'Merengues'.

"The team remains confident and continues to improve. I believe we are making significant progress, and it is still only the start of the season. We must take it game by game and keep winning so that, in the final three or four months, we are fighting for silverware. That is what this club demands," he added.

Silva played down the significance of earning a starting berth: "I just keep working hard. I am ready to help this club for one, five, ten, or 90 minutes. Whenever the boss feels he needs me, I will be ready."

Speaking afterwards to Real Madrid TV, the midfielder underlined the depth of the squad: "For a team to tick, you need more than two or three players. You need people who feel they can make a difference. We have that right across the squad, whether they play regularly or not. The team spirit is fantastic, we keep putting the work in, and we are on the right track."

He concluded by acknowledging the magnitude of the upcoming showdown against Barca: "It is a massive fixture, there is no denying that. We could end up three points clear, or nine, or even six. We must approach it with real hunger to perform well, because even though it is early in the season, these are vital points for us."