Mourinho's Invention That Has Collapsed at Real Madrid

Apuesta a este partido aquí

La Liga

1 X 2

Real Madrid Rayo Vallecano

12/09/26 21:00:00

1.11 9.50 21.00

 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.

Trent Alexander-Arnold occupies the latest news in Real Madrid as the 27-year-old player didn't convince as a midfielder in the Champions League debut against Inter Milan. José Mourinho turned to the Englishman due to the absences of Bernardo Silva, Camavinga, and Arda Güler, but the experiment raised doubts despite Real Madrid's 2-1 victory.

The Portuguese coach placed Trent in a double pivot alongside Fede Valverde, seeking to exploit his passing ability. The trial didn't allow the team to control the pace of the game, reinforcing the idea of using the Englishman mainly in his usual position.

Trent Alexander-Arnold risks Real Madrid dream ending in tatters after Jose Mourinho experimenthttps://t.co/caacWHMThp pic.twitter.com/AYxBA50O2N

— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) September 9, 2026

Trent Alexander-Arnold can't find his place in midfield

The absences forced José Mourinho to alter his usual structure. Bernardo Silva, Arda Güler, and Eduardo Camavinga were unavailable due to suspensions, while Tchouameni had just returned to the squad and didn't start.

Trent thus assumed a different role from his usual one. Real Madrid has him registered as a defender, and this season, he has featured in 4 matches, playing 205 minutes, with 1 assist and no goals across all competitions.

His presence inside didn't solve Madrid's ball-handling issues. Inter dominated phases of the game, leading to multiple interventions by Thibaut Courtois, while the white team struggled to maintain prolonged possessions and structure their attacks.

The result was positive, though. Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Fede Valverde put Madrid ahead 2-0 before the 23rd minute, but Carlos Augusto reduced the lead in the 76th minute, and Madrid held on for a 2-1 victory.

José Mourinho will explore other options

According to Alfredo Relaño, the challenge for Trent is that competition will increase when the missing players return. Bernardo Silva and Güler are two of the players Mourinho uses to contribute to the team's playmaking, while Camavinga offers another midfield option.

This reduces the necessity of utilizing Trent Alexander-Arnold away from the right-back position. In LaLiga, he has played 3 games and 126 minutes so far, with 1 start and 1 assist, indicating he is still seeking consistency in the starting lineup.

Competition is also fierce in his natural position. Denzel Dumfries has featured in the initial four league matches and started against Betis, with Trent left out of the starting eleven. The Englishman might be considering a potential departure from Real Madrid.

Real Madrid continues to seek control in matches

The Inter game highlighted a concern that Mourinho must address during the season. Madrid won back 11 balls in the opponent's half, but conceded enough chances, requiring numerous interventions from Courtois.

The absence of a clear organizer has been a topic in post-match analyses. Alfredo Relaño specifically questioned Trent's usage as a midfielder and pointed out the need for different profiles to control the game.

The upcoming schedule will provide more insights. Real Madrid now returns to LaLiga, and their second Champions League match is against Roma on October 14, where Mourinho should regain several missing pieces from the Inter game.

The next step with Trent Alexander-Arnold will be to see if José Mourinho retests him in midfield or definitively discards that possibility. With Bernardo Silva and Arda Güler back, the Englishman will have more opportunities to compete from the right-back position than to become a permanent solution for organizing play.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El invento de Mourinho que se ha venido abajo en el Real Madrid