Arda Güler earned praise from Belgium’s players after scoring a spectacular free kick for Turkey on Thursday, with Kevin De Bruyne highlighting both his quality and the responsibility he carries for his national team. Elsewhere, former Madrid academy defender Iván Fresneda has discussed the lessons he took from La Fábrica, while the latest Managing Madrid Podcast examines the international performances of Güler and several of his club teammates.
De Bruyne praises Güler: “One of the best footballers in the world”
Arda Güler opened the scoring in Turkey’s 2–1 defeat
to Belgium in İzmir, finding the net in the 20th minute before goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Charles De Ketelaere turned the match around. Although his strike did not produce a result for Turkey, it drew recognition from the opposition afterwards.
Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens acknowledged the quality of the effort rather than looking for an explanation for being beaten.
“Arda Güler’s goal? There are moments when you simply applaud your opponent, and this is one of those moments. You have to take your hat off to him,” Lammens said.
De Bruyne’s assessment extended beyond the free kick. The midfielder explained that Belgium had built their approach around limiting Güler’s influence, while suggesting Turkey needed to distribute the creative responsibility more evenly.
“Arda Güler is fantastic. He plays for one of the best clubs in the world and is one of the best footballers in the world. We kept a close eye on him at all times. His teammates should take more responsibility, because all the responsibility fell on Arda and we planned the match accordingly,” De Bruyne said.
Reported tunnel conversation leaves an impression on Güler
Belgian outlet Voetbal24 also published comments attributed to Güler describing a conversation with De Bruyne as the players headed towards the tunnel. In that account, Güler explained why the encouragement carried particular significance for him.
“After the match, as I was entering the tunnel, De Bruyne grabbed me and said, ‘Hey, Güler, what a game you played tonight!’ I just smiled because it was coming from one of the best and most experienced midfielders. He told me he’d been following my games and that he liked how I controlled the midfield. He also said that the free kick I scored was incredible. He didn’t believe I could score because I was too far from the goal. Finally, he said goodbye, wishing me continued success. I thanked him for all his kind and caring comments about my talent. They mean a lot to me, as De Bruyne is an inspiration to this generation of footballers.”
Fresneda: “I learned a lot during my time at La Fábrica”
Iván Fresneda has reflected positively on his years in Real Madrid’s academy, saying he does not regard his departure as an unfulfilled ambition. Speaking to AS, the Sporting defender explained that each stage of his career has contributed to his development, both through football and the relationships he formed.
Asked whether leaving Madrid had left him with any lingering regret, Fresneda replied:
“Not at all. My years in Madrid, Valladolid, and now Sporting have all taught me something, and I’m happy to have learned so much and to have friends like Gonzalo, who I have here with the Under-21s, whom I met during that time. The truth is, you learn things at every stage, and I think I learned a lot during my time at La Fábrica as well.”
Fresneda was also asked whether his performance against Vinícius Júnior while playing for Valladolid remained the match most frequently mentioned to him. He acknowledged its significance but pointed to more recent contributions with Sporting and Spain.
“In Spain I’d say yes, but right now there’s also the senior national team. But they also remember matches with the Under-21s and at Sporting where I provided assists and played at a high level.”
Managing Madrid Podcast: Güler’s masterclass and Madrid’s internationals
Kiyan Sobhani, Mehedi Hassan and Sam Sharpe break down the latest international action on the Managing Madrid Podcast, beginning with Güler’s performance against Belgium and a wider discussion of his development.
The episode also examines Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold against Croatia, Yan Diomande’s display against Gambia, and Dean Huijsen and Marc Cucurella’s involvement against Czechia. Elsewhere, the panel assesses Italy’s victory over a makeshift France side and the contributions of Madrid’s players across the international window.
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