Real Madrid star misses group training due to overload; not a doubt for Racing Santander clash

Real Madrid’s recent 3-1 victory over Barcelona provided Jose Mourinho with numerous positives to consider for the upcoming weeks. One of the most significant positive developments is the increasing influence of Turkish international Arda Guler in midfield. Guler played a crucial role in Sunday’s Clasico win and has become one of Mourinho’s most trusted players.

However, there are concerns over his absence from Wednesday’s group training session, as he worked indoors due to muscular overload. According to journalist Alvaro Esteban, this problem is not serious enough to impact his availability for Sunday’s La Liga match against Racing Santander. Guler completed an individual gym session instead of participating in the outdoor exercises.

Captain Fede Valverde, who also suffered discomfort from Barcelona, trained indoors, while Raul Asencio trained individually on the pitch. This individual training session appears to be a precautionary measure following an intense Clasico. Guler has been an important asset for Mourinho this season, as he made his first 90-minute appearance of the season against Barcelona.

His performance was instrumental, as he created problems for Barcelona’s defense and contributed to Kylian Mbappe’s late winning goal. Mourinho faces a decision on how to manage Guler’s minutes, as the Turkish midfielder has developed an excellent rapport with Mbappe, offering Madrid a fresh creative dimension. The coaching staff needs to carefully manage Guler’s playing time due to the club’s demanding schedule, which includes traveling to Greece for a Champions League match against AEK Athens.

Guler’s inclusion in the starting lineup is not guaranteed, as Mourinho has other options available. Nonetheless, keeping him fresh for crucial games is vital for Madrid, and his role against Racing remains to be seen.