ISTANBUL
Turkish attacking midfielder Arda Guler has been facing big competition at star-studded Real Madrid so the 19-year-old can barely find a place in the starting lineup, the Spanish club’s head manager said on Friday.
“The competition is very high in this team, so it’s not easy to break into the starting 11. However, I believe he has more opportunities compared to last season,” Carlo Ancelotti told reporters at a press conference ahead of their La Liga match against Villarreal.
Real Madrid, still reeling from a midweek UEFA Champions League upset, are looking to rebound in La Liga with a home match against Villarreal on Saturday.
“They (Villarreal) are playing at their best level. It will be a tough game, but it’s an opportunity for us to get back on track and play good football in front of our fans,” Ancelotti added.
Earlier this week, French club Lille handed Real Madrid a shocking 1-0 defeat in a Champions League match at Stade Pierre Mauroy, ending the Spanish side’s 36-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Guler came off the bench in the second half, replacing French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga during the match against Lille.
So far this season, Guler has made nine appearances for Real Madrid, totaling 280 minutes on the field. The young midfielder is competing for playing time alongside seven other midfielders, including English star Jude Bellingham, Morocco’s Brahim Diaz, Uruguay’s Federico Valverde, and Croatia’s Luka Modric.
French duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Camavinga, as well as Spain’s Dani Ceballos, who is currently sidelined with an injury, round out Madrid’s highly competitive midfield.
Guler joined Real Madrid from Turkish club Fenerbahce last year and is contracted with the Spanish giants until 2029. Despite knee and muscle injuries last season, he still managed to score six goals in 21 matches for the club over two seasons.
Last season, Guler helped Real Madrid secure several major titles, including the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the UEFA Super Cup in August.
