Real Madrid continues to prepare for the start of the league season and today completed the first of two training sessions scheduled for Valdebebas. Xabi Alonso’s team will face WSG Tirol in Austria on August 12 in a friendly match, before making their league debut at home at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on August 19 against Osasuna (9:00 p.m.).
The intensity of training is very high, with pressure exercises, ball circulation, long runs, and gym work. The most striking thing at the Ciudad Deportiva was the bandage on Arda Güler‘s right leg, specifically in the quadriceps area. According to the club, “it’s nothing serious”, he was simply wearing it as a precaution to protect the area where the Real Madrid midfielder suffered a knock. On the other hand, as indicated in Valdebebas, the players have spent more than hours between the facilities and the pitch.
In terms of injuries, Mendy, Bellingham, and Endrick continue their recovery process. The most significant loss for the Tolosa-born coach is that of the Englishman, as he leaves a gap in midfield that will likely be filled by Arda Güler in the upcoming matches. The Ottoman player took control of the midfield in the Club World Cup and was one of the big sensations of the tournament.
More importance for Arda Güler in his style of play
Xabi Alonso has opted to give him more importance and prominence than he had under Carlo Ancelotti, and the player has responded wonderfully. Always close to the heart of the play and pulling the strings in the Whites’ midfield, Arda has ‘disguised’ himself as Toni Kroos to give meaning to Madrid’s play.
However, the Basque coach has also given him more freedom to float around areas of the pitch where he is most comfortable and thus get into the opposition’s box more often. His exquisite left foot not only makes the team play better, but also allows the forwards to link up more quickly with each other.
Güler is responsible for filtering passes in the final third for the Merengue side, thanks to his technical ability and his extraordinary intelligence in reading the game between the lines and improving the play every time the ball passes through his feet. Without Bellingham in the team, Alonso has the solution, and it comes from the boots of the Turkish player.