Mourinho: I've experienced what Arda Güler is going through! Do you think this is a turning point for him?

22 Ağu 00:17

When I first arrived at Real Madrid, I was a young, talented midfielder. I was one of Mourinho’s golden kids—just like Arda. In the early months I got a lot of playing time, even started in the XI. Then, during the transfer window, two defensive midfielders came in and I lost my spot. I went through the same stuff: Mourinho’s directives, shrinking minutes, press conferences filled with talk of a “future star.” It was stressful. I tried to seize every chance to prove myself, but I couldn’t capitalize on my advantage. I was benched, then loaned out to another club. When I came back I was a very different player, both physically and mentally. Real kept me at the highest level for years, but during that time I had to work to regain the skills I had almost lost. How Arda handles this process is crucial. In my experience, focus and mental toughness were the saviors. For him to get more minutes in La Liga and the Champions League, Real’s tactical flexibility and the injuries/performance of the players tied to that system are decisive. When he contributes to wins with his training performances, convincing Carlo becomes easier. Otherwise, like I experienced, he could end up stuck on the bench. Talent alone isn’t enough for Arda to overcome his shirt issues—he also has to fight mentally. My biggest lesson was this: temporary setbacks are not a permanent part of your career, just a passing wave.