Hikmet Karaman explains why Arda Güler did not play

The 2024 European Football Championship (EURO 2024) saw a major stir following the National Team's heavy defeat to Portugal in their second Group F match, fueled by a lack of communication regarding Arda Güler's health status and the "vest" dialogue between the young player and head coach Vincenzo Montella during training. 

While criticism was directed at Montella and the TFF management, especially on social media, due to this incident, experienced coach Hikmet Karaman, who is in Germany to follow EURO 2024, stated that he happened to be at the hotel where the national team was staying on the day of the Portugal match and recounted what he witnessed to Hürriyet Newspaper:

"I LEARNED THAT ARDA WOULD NOT PLAY"

"We went to Dortmund 4 hours before the Portugal match. Since it was early, we checked into a hotel, and by coincidence, the national team was staying there too. I sat inside until the national team left the hotel for the match. I had important conversations during that time. For example, I learned that Yunus, Zeki, and Kerem would start in the first 11, and that Arda would not play."

"ARDA DID NOT WANT HIS INJURY TO BE REFLECTED OUTSIDE"

"Arda said he had pain on the day of the match but did not want this to be reflected outside. At this point, I want to say this to valuable football fans and members of the media; no one benches a Real Madrid player who played well and scored a goal in the previous match, they cannot. Even though Arda was mediocre in the first half of the Georgia match. In fact, no one would have said anything if Montella had taken him out at halftime. But when he moved Barış Alper Yılmaz to the side and shifted Arda slightly inside in the second half, Arda played differently. Now imagine, Arda Güler says on the day of the match, 'I have pain, I cannot play.' What would you do if you were the coach?"

"THERE IS NO DISRESPECT IN ARDA'S BODY LANGUAGE"

Karaman made the following assessment regarding the training footage of Arda Güler and Montella that caused great controversy:

"In that footage, a high-tempo drill is being done in a small area. Montella told Arda, 'You don't join this drill,' for protective purposes. Otherwise, why wouldn't he let him in! There is a transition game drill there, with contact. A small blow he might receive there or a high-tempo game he might not notice could make his injury worse. Then, after Arda gives the vest back, he goes to the assistant coach, says something, and returns. Look carefully at that moment; there is no disrespect in Arda's body language. This should not be taken and pulled elsewhere."

"There is not the slightest problem between Montella and Arda. I am not defending Montella here; I am empathizing as a coach. Comments and criticisms can be made about the match. But I do not accept the national team being dragged into chaos before such an important match over this incident and Arda. If I, as Hikmet Karaman, am saying this, I know something. Arda says, 'Do not report to the outside that I am injured.'"

When asked about his career, Hikmet Karaman stated that he had parted ways with Adana Demirspor, saying, "My contract with Adana Demirspor has not been terminated, but the president has made statements on this matter. After what has happened, I should not continue anyway."