{"id":1090,"date":"2025-10-16T17:17:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T09:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/?p=1090"},"modified":"2025-10-16T17:17:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T09:17:10","slug":"if-xabi-alonso-asks-me-to-play-goalkeeper-ill-buy-gloves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/16\/if-xabi-alonso-asks-me-to-play-goalkeeper-ill-buy-gloves\/","title":{"rendered":"“If Xabi Alonso asks me to play goalkeeper, I’ll buy gloves”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler discussed his integration, relationship with Xabi Alonso, and ambitions in an interview with ‘L’Equipe’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arda Guler’s situation at Real Madrid has evolved positively, with the midfielder gaining increased playing time this season and establishing himself as a key element in coach Xabi Alonso’s plans. The Turkish international discussed this and other topics in an interview with ‘L’Equipe’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guler discussed his relationship with Alonso, stating: “On the first day, he told me: ‘I know your game is instinctive, that you are a warrior on the pitch.’ His football approach often involves one-on-one situations in the opponent’s half, almost like individual marking, which requires character and aggressiveness. I have full confidence in his plans: if one day he asks me to play goalkeeper, I’ll buy gloves,” he affirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arda Guler also expressed admiration for Kylian Mbappe: “I believe he should be allowed to play where he wants. His talent affords him this freedom. If he plays centrally, it’s no coincidence; he understands the needs of the game. When he does, it’s my responsibility to compete for his place.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The young Turk also expressed gratitude towards Carlo Ancelotti: “Carlo is one of the best coaches in history. He publicly stated that I would become one of the world’s best midfielders. Davide (his son and assistant) has consistently sought to help me. I am grateful to him. Not playing was difficult, but it fueled my ambition; I was waiting for my opportunity.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding media attention, Guler stated: “I have never perceived the external noise around me as pressure. That would make my job more difficult. While there are responsibilities, these elements help me improve and raise my level; I need them. Some might consider me too agreeable because I don’t create problems, but I possess significant ambition. The important thing is not to try to be someone you are not.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also expressed deep respect for Luka Modric: “I first called Luka ‘Abi’. As a child, you are taught to add ‘Abi’ (meaning ‘big brother’) to the names of elders. I couldn’t simply address him by his name\u2026”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guler reflected on the patience and serenity he showed at the start of his Madrid journey: “I knew I was at the biggest club in the world. From the first training session, I realised I possessed the qualities to play here. I never doubted I would succeed. Juni Calafat explained the plan, warning me that the first year would be challenging, inevitable for a young player who had only experienced Turkish football. He also informed me I was arriving for the post-Modric and Kroos era. Everything was clear and sincere, which I appreciated.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, Arda Guler discussed his objectives, particularly the Champions League, clarifying he doesn’t claim Real Madrid’s fifteenth title: “I didn’t win it; that wasn’t my title. We must go and secure another one. It’s one of my primary objectives. I want the children of my country to be able to say: ‘Arda did it,’ so I can do it too.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Real Madrid midfielder Arda Guler discussed his integration, relationship with Xabi Alonso, and ambitions in an interview with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1090"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1092,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090\/revisions\/1092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktynews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}