Trust. And a defined role to go with it.
"The truth is that we had a wonderful relationship," Güler told TRT Spor. "I felt that he had handed me the keys. It was exactly what I had been looking for, truly."
Alonso arrived at Real Madrid in September 2025, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, and immediately made Güler central to his vision. The Turkey midfielder had been used sporadically under Carlo Ancelotti — flashes of quality, rarely a sustained run in the first team. Under Alonso, he started regularly, accumulated six goals and 14 assists across 50 appearances in all competitions, and produced one of the performances of the season in the Champions League knockout stage against Bayern Munich.
Alonso messaged him after that Bayern performance.
"He told me he was very proud of me," Güler said. "I was very happy to see the message. I hope God smooths his path. I think he is a truly great coach."
The detail about Alonso's methods that Güler returned to most was the tactical granularity. Not the system on paper, but the conversations.
"When he calls you into his office and explains something about tactics, it is very difficult not to be convinced," he said. "He knows very well what you are capable of. He knows very well what he can give you. He was a man who, probably every day when he woke up, was thinking about how to improve this player, how to communicate with him."
Güler also recalled Alonso's instructions before his first start of the season.
"Before our first match, when I was in the eleven, he said to me in the morning: 'I want you to touch the ball more than all those to your right.' When you hear that, it is not difficult to be convinced."
Alonso's departure in January — dismissed after Real Madrid's form deteriorated and the project stalled earlier than expected — came as a blow. Güler was one of several players who publicly expressed gratitude for what the coach had built.
Now Alonso has signed a four-year deal as Chelsea's new manager. Güler's former coach is in London. The player himself has been directly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge — with reports suggesting Alonso made Güler a transfer priority during contract negotiations with the Chelsea board.
Real Madrid have no plans to sell. But the relationship that formed at the Bernabeu may yet shape both their summers.
"Now he has signed for Chelsea," Güler said simply. "I wish him all the best. Of course, we still keep texting each other."