Ancelotti: La Liga is in Barcelona’s hands, and this is what has changed in Guler
The coach said: “It seemed that the match was decided. We had the opportunity to score our fourth goal through Guler. Then we made the substitution because Asensio was tired and could no longer cope. We suffered more than we should have. We must keep in mind that by substituting Asensio, we missed six defenders, and we are not always able to fix these things. But for an hour, we delivered a great performance. We could have better capitalized on the lead, but in the end, it was a wonderful victory.”
He added: “Guler’s transition was a natural development for a player who wants to play for Real Madrid, possesses high quality, works hard, and has not lost confidence in himself. It is clear that Guler in September is not the same Guler today; he has changed a lot, including his physical structure, which has become much stronger, while his quality remains the same. It has been a natural development for a young player at Real Madrid.
He continued: “Will winning the Clasico make you win the title? I don’t know. Even if we win, we will still be one point behind. La Liga is in Barcelona’s hands, but we will have better chances if we win. It’s a great opportunity. We will prepare well for Sunday’s match, which I’m not saying will be decisive, but it will be close.”
He emphasized: “It is my responsibility to manage the team better, not to manage players individually. Sometimes that affects one player more than others. We have talked here about Endrick and young players. Real Madrid’s history tells us that great players… have to sit on the bench to become undisputed starters at Real Madrid. Arda performed wonderfully last year, and he is performing even better this year, and he will perform even better next year. He has the qualities of a player who can be a starter at Real Madrid. He has adapted well to the bench, and it hasn’t bothered him, and he has developed noticeably.”
He continued: “Why do you think fans find it difficult to win against Barcelona? We played our last match a week ago. It was a very competitive match, and we were close to winning. We don’t need any surprises. We will play a strong match. It is very important. We will approach it with confidence. Despite all the difficulties, we are here, and the ability to fight for this match is great.”
He added: “Mbappe will be crucial in the Clasico, as Barcelona has a strong defense, but they play with a high line, so his movements behind the ball will be very important and decisive. My team is ready, and Rodrigo has a slight fever, but he will recover. We have a week, which is the time we need to prepare well for the Clasico.
He noted: “Bellingham put in a tremendous physical effort. He was exhausted in the end; that was the last game, not because he didn’t want to pass the ball to Vinicius, but he pushed a little more and didn’t notice the opponent behind him. It’s a game that can happen at the end of the match due to fatigue.”
Regarding the possibility of Guler participating in the Clasico: “He can always play. He will compete strongly for a starting position in the lineup. There is no doubt about that.”
He added: “Have you ever had a decisive goalkeeper like Courtois? Yes. I have a list… It has been a successful career. I have a very long list of goalkeepers, starting with Buffon, Cech, Neuer, Dida, Van der Sar, Casillas, Pickford. If I had to list the best players, Courtois tops the list. I have trained the best goalkeepers in the world, like Peruzzi at Juventus, and an excellent list of goalkeepers, and that is one of the reasons for my success, along with a list of midfielders and forwards.”
He concluded: “Guler? I see him much better, and with less responsibility than last year. Last year, he seemed to bear a great deal of responsibility due to his age. He is adapting well. He has become calmer and more confident in himself. If he makes a mistake, it’s not the end of the world. A few months ago, I criticized those around him, and now I have to congratulate them on their wonderful performance.”
