Arda Güler, despite his undeniable talent, hasn't had many opportunities this season. In his initial appearances, he didn't manage to shine as desired.
In the match against Getafe, Güler stood out as a key player, being essential for Madrid to secure the three points. His goal, a classy right-footed shot, was the icing on the cake of a performance that many already consider one of the best of his short career. "I scored a good goal and I'm very happy for the three points," Güler said after the match in an interview for Real Madrid TV.
The Comparison with Kroos
What nobody expected is that Güler, in 78 minutes, would show similarities with Toni Kroos. Although it's too early to make definitive comparisons, Güler's performance evoked the German genius, especially in game distribution.
The young Turk attempted 77 passes, of which 67 were correct, giving an accuracy of 87%. Although he didn't reach Kroos's level of precision, his persistence and ability to direct the game became evident. In the first 45 minutes, Güler was Madrid's engine, with 56 correct passes out of 63 attempted, a figure higher than his usual average.
The Key to His Success: An Ideal Position
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid's coach, didn't take long to acknowledge Güler's great performance. The Italian coach highlighted Güler's quality, intelligence, and calmness as an interior, a position in which he felt very comfortable.
However, Ancelotti also clarified that the team's tactical system hadn't allowed him to exploit his potential in that position more frequently.
In a 4-3-3, Güler showed his potential, excelling both in playmaking and decisive passes in dangerous areas. Of his 67 passes, 29 were in the opponent's half, and 17 in the final third, showing his involvement in the team's offense.
A Bright Future in the Midfield
Although Güler has mainly played on the wings, his performance as an interior made it clear that his future could be in the midfield.
Ancelotti commented that he lacks some forcefulness in duels, but highlighted his enormous quality. "The quality he has in game construction is phenomenal," the coach stated.
Madrid's coach sees a promising future in Güler, even beyond the winger role. In the future, he could occupy the same role as Kroos in the midfield, as long as the 4-3-3 system is maintained.
The Promise of a Great Future
Arda Güler has shown that he has everything necessary to be one of the great figures in world soccer. His ability to build play, his vision, and his natural talent make him a gem of Real Madrid.
Although he is young and has much to learn, what happened in Getafe shows that the future of Turkish soccer and Madrid could be in his feet.