Güler finding his feet under Arbeloa's guidance at Madrid
After a difficult end to his time with Xabi Alonso, Turkish playmaker Arda Güler is showing signs of revival under new boss Álvaro Arbeloa at Real Madrid.
Turkish wonderkid Arda Güler appears to be getting his Madrid career back on track after hitting a rough patch under previous manager Xabi Alonso. The talented playmaker is now finding his rhythm with new gaffer Álvaro Arbeloa at the helm.
Rocky beginnings
Things didn’t exactly start swimmingly for Güler under Arbeloa. The opening match against Albacete ended in a disappointing cup exit, and the Turkish international found himself warming the bench for the first league fixture against Levante—a match that saw the Bernabéu faithful proper narked off with the team’s performance.
However, when Güler replaced Camavinga after half-time, Madrid’s fortunes began to change. The team created more chances and found the back of the onion bag, showing glimpses of what the creative midfielder can bring to the table.
The Monaco turning point
Arbeloa’s vision for Güler became crystal clear in Madrid’s recent clash with Monaco at the Bernabéu. The 21-year-old was handed a start and tasked with being the team’s creative brain—the conductor orchestrating Madrid’s attacking symphony and linking play with the forwards.
This role isn’t unfamiliar to Güler, who previously showed promising chemistry with Mbappé during Xabi’s tenure. But something went pear-shaped along the way.
What went wrong with Xabi?
Despite a bright start under Alonso, Güler’s influence gradually waned. The youngster:
- Drifted further from goal-scoring positions
- Lost his creative impact
- Found himself benched for crucial matches
Particularly telling was his absence from the starting XI in both Supercopa matches in Jeddah, managing just 9 minutes against Atlético and 22 against Barcelona.
Arbeloa’s restoration project
As Arbeloa works to revitalize Madrid’s overall performance, Güler’s resurgence appears central to his plans. Against Monaco, we saw glimpses of the Turkish star returning to his best.
The new boss is demanding significant effort from Güler without the ball, while also entrusting him with playmaking responsibilities. This dual role requires tremendous work rate—dropping deep near Courtois when opponents press, while also arriving in the box for finishing opportunities.
The gaffer clearly believes Güler can grow into this demanding position, especially since no other player has convincingly filled this director role in recent matches under Xabi.
Grateful for Xabi’s guidance
Despite his reduced playing time toward the end of Alonso’s reign, Güler remains appreciative of the Basque manager’s influence, being among the first to post a heartfelt farewell on social media when Xabi departed.
With Arbeloa now backing him, the Turkish talent has a fresh chance to establish himself as the creative heartbeat of this Madrid side.