Ancelotti Apologizes to Güler for What Happened in Extra Time: ‘Arda, I Couldn’t Put You In
Shortly after the match, Carlo Ancelotti spoke with one of the players who drew attention during and after the game: Arda Güler.
Real Madrid is out of the current edition of the Copa del Rey after an intense match against Atlético Madrid. The Madrid derby in this competition did not feature one of the protagonists with whom many Madridistas have reconnected after several months: Arda Güler. The Turkish ’24’ had his first appearances of the season in previous Copa del Rey ties and even played during the extra time in the semifinal of the Spanish Supercup, also against Atlético Madrid.
However, this time, he did not get any minutes. Carlo Ancelotti made several substitutions during the second half and extra time, but none of them had the impact that the coach from Reggiolo would have desired: victory was not achieved, and Real Madrid was eliminated. Many thought that along with Toni Kroos, Arda Güler would come on, but the Italian coach decided to trust Dani Ceballos instead.
After the end of the match, Ancelotti had a brief conversation with the Turkish ’24’ to make it clear that he has not ‘forgotten’ about him and that he still considers him for the rest of the season: “Arda, I can’t put you in today, I’m sorry… you’ll get minutes on Sunday.” There is still some caution at Real Madrid regarding the physical condition of a player who seems to be at 100% in competitive terms.
Everything in its time However, the excessive intensity of Atlético Madrid could have affected Arda Güler more than intended. In addition, Carlo Ancelotti understood that it was not appropriate or ideal to bring in Arda Güler because, in his opinion, the match offered more possibilities for a player like Dani Ceballos. The ‘Güler case’ still shows its aftermath at Real Madrid.
But Ancelotti’s desire to have Güler is firmer than ever. Everything indicates that he could be a strong candidate for a starting position in the match against Almería at the Santiago Bernabéu: it will be a perfect opportunity to shake off the bitter taste of the cup elimination by enjoying a player who has become extremely popular among white fans.
