Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has publicly backed young starlet Arda Guler, stating that a recent mistake is part of his development as he adapts to a new position. This comes as Alonso addresses disciplinary issues within his squad after the team received its second red card in as many games.
Following Dani Carvajal’s recent sending-off, which came on the heels of Dean Huijsen’s red card the previous weekend, Alonso admitted the team needs to be more disciplined. While Huijsen’s dismissal was debated, the manager was more straightforward about his captain’s actions. “The expulsion was avoidable on our part, it’s a shame, and we’ll have to talk about it,” he told Marca.
However, Alonso was far more forgiving of Guler, who gave away possession leading to Olympique Marseille’s goal in the first half of a recent match. The manager framed the error as a necessary part of the young player’s journey.
“What I said at the Club World Cup, that we had to invest in Arda, makes more sense now,” Alonso said. “Arda was making more touches than he should have, and that’s why the mistake came. It’s no problem. He’s worth it and he’s on the right track.”
General Performance and ‘Champions League Spirit’
Despite the disciplinary issues, Alonso praised his side’s overall performance, particularly their response after going down to ten men.
“A lot happened in the game,” he said. “A very good, fantastic first half-hour, with pace, good pressure, and plenty of chances. We could have taken the lead but conceded.”
He highlighted the team’s resilience after Carvajal’s red card. “The spirit did not change,” Alonso said. “We were really ambitious, we showed a lot of strength and character to score the lead, and then a lot of maturity to see it out.”
He credited the team’s “Champions League spirit” for a crucial victory. “The 2-1 we scored allowed us to defend with ten and three very important points. It’s a very important victory.”
