Alexander Arnold fails the exam

Apuesta a este partido aquí

La Liga

1 X 2

Real Madrid Rayo Vallecano

12/09/26 21:00:00

1.11 8.50 19.00

 PUBLICIDAD

Cuotas validas al publicarse, sujetas a cambios. Regístrese en bet365, ingrese 5€ o más en su cuenta y conseguirá un 100% de su ingreso válido en créditos de apuesta (hasta 100€). Solo para clientes nuevos. Se aplican las condiciones. Las ganancias no incluyen el importe de los créditos de apuesta. Se aplican premios máximos, restricciones de juego, límites de tiempo y condiciones. Es necesario registrarse.

Real Madrid debuted with a victory in the UEFA Champions League by defeating Inter Milan 2-1 with a strong performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, Alexander-Arnold's tactical exam as a midfielder was unsuccessful.

The 27-year-old English international was a key player chosen by José Mourinho to play in midfield due to absences like Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, and Arda Güler, but his performance lacked defensive solidity and impact in ball circulation.

Midfield Gaps and Thibaut Courtois' Performance

Playing as a defensive midfielder, the former Liverpool player struggled to control the midfield against the Italian side. Despite Real Madrid taking the lead in the first half, Alexander-Arnold's positional errors allowed Inter to dominate possession and exploit spaces behind the Madrid midfielders.

This defensive imbalance exposed the Real Madrid defense, forcing goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to make crucial saves to maintain the lead. Alexander-Arnold played 79 minutes before being substituted, with his ball losses leading to Inter's goal in the 77th minute.

José Mourinho's Verdict on the Midfield Experiment

In the post-match press conference, José Mourinho appreciated Alexander-Arnold's effort but firmly ruled out continuing the experiment in future matches. The Portuguese coach stated that the 27-year-old's qualities suit only the right-back position, where he has spent most of his professional career.

Real Madrid's coach admitted that the decision to deploy him in midfield was forced due to squad absences, confirming that such tactics won't be repeated in high-stakes matches due to the lack of balance in the setup.

Immediate Return to the Right Back Position in the Real Madrid Scheme

The club's management and coaching staff believe that the Englishman's passing skills do not outweigh the defensive responsibilities of a top-level holding midfielder. The experience from the first European fixture led to a reshuffling of the team's plan in LaLiga.

With the returning suspended players in upcoming matches, the player will compete for the right-back position for the rest of the 2026-2027 season.

Real Madrid's first team will resume training in Valdebebas to prepare for the domestic league match. José Mourinho will field Trent Alexander-Arnold in his natural right-back position in the upcoming matches, giving control of the midfield back to the team's natural pivots.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alexander Arnold reprueba el examen