Key reason why Real Madrid are not starting Arda Guler as a central midfielder

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Real Madrid are yet to find the right balance in midfield, and while Carlo Ancelotti in the past has said he can see Arda Guler as a midfielder, he is yet to be given too many chances there, in spite of injuries. However there is a key reason that Guler is not in the line-ups.

According to Relevo, one of the key issues is his defensive work-rate, which Ancelotti does not feel is good enough to start him in a deeper role. Jude Bellingham occupies Guler's ideal position, linking attack and midfield, but without that, Guler's battle is to compete with the likes of Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.

While Guler put in a good effort against Real Sociedad, Ancelotti wants to see more of Guler defending in training. The Italian feels he is not sufficiently committed to defending without the ball, and has let Guler know about it. In general, Ancelotti tends to praise defensive work more than work with the ball.

Certainly it seems Guler's path to a starting role has a number of obstacles, but attitude is something Ancelotti is unlikely to compromise on. On Monday it was reported that assistant manager and son Davide Ancelotti disagrees with his father, and feels Guler should be given a starting spot. The question is as much who you take out as who you put in for Ancelotti.

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