According to reports, Real Madrid is ending a season that began with high hopes but saw those hopes fade as quickly as they ignited. Both from a team and individual perspective. The dream of winning major trophies vanished within a month. Arsenal destroyed the dream of another Champions League comeback, the Copa del Rey slipped away despite Real having it within their grasp, and Barcelona’s victory in El Clásico completely extinguished Mbappé’s hopes of a title until the final day.

Along this path, the role of players who were once expected to carry the team—which has consistently failed against big teams—has gradually diminished.

A few brilliant performances provided Güler and Ceballos with the chance to secure their place in the fateful El Clásico—which served as a de facto La Liga final. Even Endrick came close to making a serious impact on the pitch, but ultimately, none of them could meet expectations in the season’s final test.

The 28-year-old Ceballos had a fixed place in the midfield of a team still transitioning from the legendary trio of Casemiro, Modrić, and Kroos before his injury at the Anoeta Stadium during the Copa del Rey. A midfield that is now left somewhat leaderless due to injuries to players like Camavinga and the defensive roles of Tchouaméni and Valverde.

Ancelotti entrusted Ceballos with leading the team in the crucial match against Manchester City in the Champions League—a decision that reflected his standing in the dressing room, especially since he has two more years left on his contract with Real. He wasn’t ready for the away leg against Arsenal in the quarter-finals and only got 30 minutes in the return leg, but he is far from his brilliant winter form.

On the other hand, the 20-year-old Güler rose from obscurity to prominence, but El Clásico proved too heavy a burden for him. The Turkish star was one of Real’s key players in the Copa del Rey final and arrived at Montjuïc in excellent form. In recent weeks, his situation has changed dramatically. Before the FIFA break in March, he had only played in four of Real’s 13 matches. When Ancelotti told him at the time of signing: “Arda, you will have a bright future at Real. Maybe not in the first year, but you will have opportunities”—it has now come true.

Güler had become one of the team’s standout performers in the final weeks of the season; including his brilliance against Getafe, which was a turning point in his journey. He scored two goals and provided two assists in the three matches before El Clásico and received much praise from Ancelotti, but in El Clásico, he only lasted 45 minutes.

Endrick, 18, had fewer opportunities. Ancelotti was ready to bring him on for the final 15 minutes, but Vinícius’s insistence on staying on the pitch limited his appearance to a few ineffective minutes. In the 14 minutes—including stoppage time—Endrick couldn’t even properly get into the flow of the game.

The Copa del Rey was Endrick’s favorite competition, but outside the knockout stages, he hasn’t made the most of his limited opportunities. In that same match, even Víctor Muñoz, the young academy player who came on four minutes later, had at least one chance and touched the ball four times.

Now, after a disappointing El Clásico, Endrick, Güler, and Ceballos have three games to prove themselves again before the Club World Cup and show the next Real Madrid manager that they can play a significant role in his plans.