And finally Arda Güler appeared. The trickster played one of his best games in a Real Madrid shirt, and he did so in an important match, at a time when the Whites are fighting for the league title. The first half against Getafe was brilliant (the second not so much), playing as a pivot, managing the team as few have done this year, from side to side, offering solutions, creating dangerous chances, and scoring the goal that earned Real Madrid three points. He was substituted with 15 minutes to go, and Ancelotti sent him off with a kiss.
Güler’s season
Arda Güler has not been able to enjoy the season he had hoped for. The promising young Turkish player started the season hoping to play a more prominent role and get more minutes on the pitch, not only for himself but also for the fans, who were eager to discover whether this youngster really has what it takes for the team and whether he can be a reliable player for the future. However, his participation has been limited. Until yesterday, he had only accumulated 787 minutes in 22 games, having started eight games for the Whites and scoring just one goal.
Against Getafe, Carlo Ancelotti seemed to be thinking more about Saturday’s Cup final against Barcelona, but the game had other ideas. Real Madrid needed to win if they wanted to keep their hopes of winning the league title alive. You only had to see how the team took to the field to know that they were going for the win. But what was striking was not Arda Güler’s place in the starting line-up, but the position he played in, that of playmaker, and he not only did his job, he was decisive.
Güler signs his first big night
The opening minutes foreshadowed the battle that the match was going to be, with an aggressive Getafe marking their territory. Real Madrid only had Vinicius as their star player on the field, with neither Mbappé, Rodrygo nor Bellingham in the starting lineup. With Endrick and Brahim, the team looked more united, with more movement that made Getafe’s defense hesitate, and with Güler pulling the strings from the back.
The Turkish player started from deep, sticking close to the center backs, to build the team’s play from the back, with a cool head, always making the best decision for the team. The first half was marked by his performance, with Ancelotti’s side dominating as they had not done for a long time. This deeper position allowed him to join the attack with more freedom, enabling him to show his quality. The goal midway through the first half was a reward for a player who has had a difficult season, and with Ancelotti.
Relationship with Ancelotti
The truth is that there has been a lot of speculation during the season about the relationship between Ancelotti and Güler. The Turkish player felt betrayed by the Italian coach, who had promised him more playing time this season and had not delivered. Güler had made his future at Real Madrid conditional on the Italian coach staying. If Ancelotti stayed, he would leave. If Carletto left, he would stay.
But after yesterday’s great game, with fifteen minutes to go, Ancelotti substituted Güler, and as the Turkish player made his way to the bench, Carlo Ancelotti planted a kiss on the cheek of a surprised footballer. We don’t know if it was a kiss of forgiveness or a kiss that belies the bad relationship between them.
The truth is that Güler played his best game against Getafe and was decisive with the only goal of the match. His position in midfield was surprising, as was the way he played the ball, something the team has been lacking. It may be too late in the season to have discovered a new position for the Turkish player, but his talent could still bring joy to Real Madrid this season.