Former Real Madrid player and TNT Pundit Steve McManaman
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Steve McManaman knows better than most what it takes for a British player to make the leap from Liverpool to Real Madrid.
The former winger spent the majority of his career at Anfield before becoming the first British footballer to sign for Real Madrid in 1999.
He went on to win two Champions League titles and La Liga in Spain, giving him a unique perspective on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first steps in Madrid.
McManaman does not believe the England international has struggled to adapt as much as some have suggested.
Instead, he points to the physical problems that disrupted Alexander-Arnold’s first season and believes the defender is now in a much better position to establish himself.
“He’s fine. I speak to him, and he’s fine. He’s settled in well. The problem is that he had a lot of injuries last year. That was the problem.
“He had physical issues, and the team weren’t at their best either. I think he should be fine this year.
“Although, again, it’s going to be tough against Barcelona. Barcelona have signed some good players. He played the other day and did very well. I don’t need to give Trent any advice.
Steve McManaman, former Real Madrid player
McManaman has shared his wisdom with Alexander-Arnold. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
“He knows what he has to do. He knows he has to learn the language, settle in and enjoy his life in Madrid. And he’s doing just that.
“He’s got good friends there. I don’t think he’ll have any problems,” McManaman told SPORT.
Mourinho faces a different Real Madrid challenge
McManaman also addressed Jose Mourinho’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Portuguese manager previously worked with a dressing room containing some of the biggest personalities in the game, and that experience could prove valuable again.
However, McManaman believes Mourinho’s success will ultimately be judged by whether Real Madrid can finish above Barcelona.
“Now he’s back to try and get the better of Barcelona. He needs to finish ahead of Barcelona. If he finishes ahead of Barcelona, it’ll be incredible.
“If he finishes below them, it’ll be a disaster. He’s brought in several key players, but the most important thing is that he needs Kylian and Vinícius to play together and perform well.
“We’ll just have to wait and see.”
McManaman rejects Galacticos comparison
Vinicius Jr., Real Madrid player
McManaman says Mourinho’s return will be judged on trophies. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Having been part of the original Galacticos era, McManaman was also asked whether he sees similarities between that Real Madrid team and Mourinho’s current squad.
For McManaman, the defining difference is that his generation knew how to turn star power into trophies, without allowing individual status to undermine the collective.
“No. Because we were very good and we won everything. So no, I don’t think there are any similarities.
“Apart from having big names in the team, there’s no similarity whatsoever. We knew what we had to do. There were no egos.
“Everyone knew where they had to play. Vinícius wants to play there and Kylian wants to play there. That didn’t happen in our team.
“Figo played there, you played there… The most important thing is to be successful. To win. And if you win, nobody cares. Because you’re winning.
“If you lose, as you know, in Spain it’s a huge problem. So it doesn’t matter who you’ve got in the team. What matters is whether you’re successful or not,” he concluded.
Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Real Madrid
Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Jose Mourinho is considering a tactical solution that could finally give Real Madrid’s record signing Yan Diomande his first start while also allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold to move into a more central role.
According to an update from AS (h/t Madrid Xtra), Mourinho believes Alexander-Arnold and Diomande can complement each other, with the teenager’s presence on the right potentially allowing the England international to move inside and influence the game from midfield.
The idea could become particularly relevant when Real Madrid host Inter Milan in their Champions League opener, with Mourinho facing a depleted midfield and several difficult selection decisions.
Mourinho sees a way to fit Alexander-Arnold and Diomande
Diomande has had a slow introduction to life at Real Madrid since arriving as the club’s record signing.
The 19-year-old has made four league appearances but has accumulated only 83 minutes and has yet to start a match.
Yan Diomande, Real Madrid player
Diomande is yet to start for Real Madrid. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Mourinho has been cautious with his integration, but the circumstances surrounding the Inter game could accelerate the process.
Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga are all suspended, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Thiago Pitarch remain serious doubts.
The shortage of midfield options, thus, could force Mourinho to make changes elsewhere in the team.
That could open the door for Diomande to finally make his first Real Madrid start.
The winger’s inclusion would also help facilitate Mourinho’s plan for Alexander-Arnold.
Rather than remaining at right-back, the former Liverpool player could move into midfield and operate as part of a double pivot.
Alexander-Arnold could move into midfield
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid player
Alexander-Arnold could feature in the midfield. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
As reported before, the proposed midfield pairing would see Alexander-Arnold alongside Federico Valverde, with the Englishman taking responsibility for building attacks and Valverde providing the defensive protection and energy around him.
Alexander-Arnold’s passing range makes the idea understandable.
From a deeper position, he would have more opportunities to dictate the tempo, switch play and exploit spaces with his long-range distribution.
His movement into midfield would also create room for Diomande to operate higher on the right.
At the same time, Denzel Dumfries could then occupy the right-back position, giving Mourinho a structure that accommodates all three players without forcing Alexander-Arnold to remain in his traditional role.