Real Madrid is already intensely focused on their upcoming Club World Cup match against RB Salzburg, a crucial encounter that will determine the top spot in Group H.
This fixture holds significant importance for new coach Xabi Alonso, who is aiming to secure first place and potentially avoid a knockout stage clash with Manchester City.
This initial success in the tournament is proving vital for Alonso and his coaching staff, as they actively lay the groundwork for the 2025-2026 season and address issues inherited from the previous “Ancelotti era.”
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Upon his arrival, Xabi Alonso articulated his vision, stating, “I have done an analysis of how [the team] has played and how the players are. But I use it in terms of my idea, the project we started.
“Coaches, in the end, depend on the players, and in this squad, there are players of a very high competitive level. The challenge now is to make a team, bring out the potential of these players, and get everyone to work together. Because if we do, we will have a very… I’m not going to say unstoppable… but very powerful force.” These remarks hinted at an awareness of certain player discontents during the previous coaching regime, a sentiment particularly shared by young midfielder Arda Güler.
A candid conversation between Arda Güler and Xabi Alonso at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, Real Madrid’s base for the Club World Cup, shed light on Güler’s past frustrations.
The young Turkish international reportedly confessed to his new coach that going “several games in a row without even warming up, it was very frustrating for me, although we always had a lot of respect…” as reported by Defansa Central. This revelation underscores the challenges Güler faced under Carlo Ancelotti. Indeed, Güler had contemplated a loan move this summer, specifically if Ancelotti’s tenure had been extended.
This context explains why Alonso’s arrival has been a breath of fresh air for Arda Güler. The midfielder is firmly convinced of his talent to succeed at Real Madrid, but he recognizes the need for confidence and consistent playing opportunities.
Under Xabi Alonso, he is reportedly receiving both, and he has responded with impressive performances, notably against Pachuca, where he scored a vital goal. Güler will be eager to maintain this momentum against RB Salzburg at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, further solidifying his claim for a regular role in Alonso’s burgeoning project.
