Well, nobody saw that coming.
Arda Güler has found himself in a newfound refurbishment under Xabi Alonso. The Spanish manager visibly admires the Turk and loves to use him on the field for all the meticulous qualities Güler brings to the table.
But again, this is a newfound role that Güler has landed. Prior to this, his time at Real Madrid was not so merry or convenient. He was chased by clubs around the world before Real Madrid secured his signing. This is his third season in the Spanish capital since then, and it has only begun to get better now.
The first two seasons that the midfielder spent under former manager Carlo Ancelotti were abysmal for his own record. He was not playing much, in fact, not at all. The manager was famous for not relying on younger, developing players, and Güler ended up paying the price by sitting on the bench for the majority of his time under the Italian boss.
So tense was the situation that rumours of a potential exit were all over the media, and rightfully so. Back in Turkey, both for club and country, Güler had been a crucial figure, but his influence declined entirely after joining Madrid.
And naturally, from such a lack of trust, one would expect that Guler would not be very appreciative of Carlo Ancelotti and his methods. However, the midfielder has completely overturned that prediction.
In an interview with L’Équipe, Güler spoke about his humble beginnings and the start of his Real Madrid career among many other topics. One subject he also touched upon was his view of Ancelotti and his staff.
He said, "Carlo is one of the best coaches in history. We mustn’t forget that he told the press that I would be one of the best midfielders in the world. Davide always tried to help me. I’m grateful. When I wasn’t playing, it was tough, but it fuelled my ambition: I waited for my moment."
Fans would not have expected that sort of affection for Ancelotti and his staff from Arda Güler, who was made to sit on the bench for two long seasons. But again, it is a welcome remark and reflects the supreme mentality that the young man possesses, a refreshing quality to see.
His story under Xabi Alonso is entirely the opposite. He is now one of the most important members of the team, who rarely sees the bench he once befriended every matchday. And he is delivering on that promise too. In fact, he did deliver last season, though they realised it too late to make amends through him.
Looking back, the criticism hurled at Ancelotti, much of which is justified, also carries an element of superficiality and excessive judgment. The man who has won it all, both as a player and as a manager, certainly deserves respect. Not playing youngsters all the time was a choice rooted in his style, and we can only call it out so far as to assess its impact on the team.
Nonetheless, Ancelotti remains the most successful Real Madrid manager and will go down in history with his name etched in all things positive.