Real Madrid have started this season about as strongly as anyone would have expected them to be, considering the situation and the circumstances.
It is a brand new team with a brand new coach who is just trying to figure things out, and it is good that Real Madrid signed a few players in the transfer market.
I think Xabi Alonso needed it, but not only him – the players needed reinforcements in certain positions that they did not have last season.
It was a nightmare of all sorts, and since no one wanted to go through that again, Real Madrid ended up signing four players over the transfer window.
Real Madrid solved every problem in their transfer market but one
There was a dire need for a left-back, and that problem was addressed with Álvaro Carreras. Real Madrid needed a left footed right-winger who can create damage. Enter Franco Mastantuono.
Real Madrid required a brilliant, potential all-timer ball progressor and a young, elite defender, and they signed Dean Huijsen.
Finally, they wanted a player like Trent Alexander-Arnold, so they signed Trent Alexander-Arnold. Things are working out at a good pace, and there is no doubt among the fanbase that soon, the team will really start to click and nothing will look the way it did at times under Carlo Ancelotti.
But there are some other people who had the belief that Real Madrid needed to sign one player, maybe two this season. Some said there was a need for another midfielder – and that was echoed internally by Xabi Alonso – while others said that a defender was more necessary.
I am of the former opinion. Real Madrid already have too many defenders. I understand that they needed to sign a player – I would have done so, too – but they needed to get rid of the clutter in defense first. There are two players in defense that Real Madrid will need to get rid of before they try to sign anyone in that department. Those are Ferland Mendy and David Alaba.
So, a midfielder signing would have been nice. Real Madrid have six players in that department, but I do believe someone who is a youngster, similar to Güler's age, would be good to have.
Real Madrid were interested in Kees Smit over the summer, and he looks like a quality player to have. Real Madrid could also do with a controller type profile in some cases, so a youngster who can provide that would be really good in this gruelling season.
It is also worth noting that these players are perfectly capable of controlling games. What I mean by a controller is having a player who knows how to calm the tempo down when there is need.
In big games like the Clasico, where the stakes are high, there is a need for a calming presence. That is missing sometimes from this team, and that is all they need to work on this season.
Next season, another defender should join the club at any cost, and everyone can see from there what needs to be done.