Bernal arrived at Real Betis this summer to become the club's holding midfielder and has quickly made the position his own, with Manuel Pellegrini resisting the chance to bring back Sofyan Amrabat for extra cover and instead trusting the Uruguayan alongside Marc Roca.
His latest convincing display came in the 3-2 win over Lille, his first taste of Champions League football, delivered as though he had been playing at that level for years. Speaking exclusively to Diario AS, Bernal reflected on his rapid adaptation.
"My team-mates give me a lot of peace of mind. It wasn't going to be easy, the Champions League demands a lot and it's a very positive start," he said.
Even Bernal admitted surprise at how smoothly the transition has gone.
"I wasn't expecting this start, but since I arrived I've been preparing very well and changed several habits to be the best version of myself. And I want to keep going down this path. I think the team does too," he said.
He was full of praise for the collective performance against Lille, despite being substituted in the second half after picking up a yellow card.
"It was a brilliant match in every sense. It got complicated at the start, but the change in mentality the team showed was fundamental, and it was reflected in the result," he said.
Bernal credited Pellegrini directly for the confidence underpinning his form.
"Pellegrini talks to me a lot, he gives me confidence in myself to believe more. He gives me the support and the morale to do the right thing on the pitch, and that's what matters," he said. The midfielder also stressed his adaptability alongside a variety of partners in the middle of the park.
"My main characteristic is being a pivote, but I can also play in a double six. I've played there a lot. I adapt to whatever characteristics my team-mates have, whether it's Fornals, Isco or Marc Roca. They have fantastic quality," he said.
He singled out Isco in particular as a player he continues to learn from.
"Isco is the calm of the team. Every time he plays, you feel it, and when he doesn't, you feel that too. When you give him the ball he always creates something brilliant that gives us that breathing space for the team to move forward. He's very important for us," Bernal said.