I don't know, these "mindgames" are often insinuated... yet I think in cycling they don't happen often in this direction (downwards).
Saying Bernal is labile, by the way, because he showed tears...
In general sports psychology works by talking riders up. And it's not easy to tell the rider "yeah, we totally believe in you, of course you won't have much problems, we will only state this in public, so will you, okay?" and make him to fully believe in himself at the same time.
Also you discourage others from preying and exploiting your vulnerability by showing, if only false, strength.
If teams are careful on the outside I think usually they do it because they don't know themselves, and if there are serious reasons to doubt whether things will go well it's better to not expect and make the public expect something from a rider which has a good chance of not working out, because then you are setting up a disappointment which could turn into resentment. So maybe being a bit over-careful in your remarks to the public, yes, but real smokescreens... I don't know.
(Looking at DQS's remarks about Evenepoel being behind because of this tunnel thing it's already quite the other way around, I think. He lost most meters after the tunnel and not in it, so this is talking a small weakness down. I suppose they are now sure he can fight for the win, the general doubts they must have had themselves have probably lessened a good deal.)