Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso said he intends to deploy 19-year-old midfielder Arda Güler as a central playmaker and urged the Turkey international to improve his defensive anticipation in order to accelerate his development. Speaking after training on Friday, Alonso praised Güler’s “incredible catalogue of passes” and said the team “plays better when Arda is on the pitch,” but stressed that the youngster must learn to read situations early rather than rely on physical duels. “It’s the right time to invest in his growth; expectations are high and we have to help him mature,” the coach added. Güler, who joined Madrid from Fenerbahçe last summer, said he embraces the instructions. “The coach wants me to organise the team and touch the ball a lot,” he noted, underscoring his ambition to become a key creative force for the Spanish champions.