Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho spoke about former Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold after their Champions League match against Inter on Tuesday
Trent Alexander-Arnold during a Real Madrid game
Jose Mourinho has had his say on Trent Alexander-Arnold(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
View Image
Jose Mourinho reportedly views Trent Alexander-Arnold differently from other full-backs because he can invert and create centrally. The former Liverpool vice-captain is said to have impressed the new Real Madrid head coach with his performances and versatility.
Alexander-Arnold, 27, started in midfield during their Champions League match against Inter on Tuesday after previously playing as a right-back in La Liga. It was only his second start of the season, having been named as a substitute in their other three matches.
Denzel Dumfries has begun all but one of their matches at right-back. Both, however, were able to start against Inter.
The BBC claims Alexander-Arnold has impressed Mourinho with his displays so far and values his versatility. His ability to play in midfield while starting as a full-back is apparently why the coach views him differently from others.
Mourinho spoke at length about Alexander-Arnold during his post-match press conference. He acknowledged after the match that, for midfield partner Federico Valverde: "It's difficult to play with Trent [Alexander-Arnold], to whom I'm very grateful for the work he did.
"But his characteristics as a midfielder and the physical demands of playing at full-back or in midfield... It's a completely different set of demands."
Content Image
Content Image
In response to questions about the decision to select Alexander-Arnold over other midfield options, Mourinho said: "He played very well. He understood his tactical role perfectly.
"The runs of his number eights, Curtis Jones and Nicolo Barella, both he and Valverde... They worked very well at this level.
"He had a few turnovers here and there, because it's not the same playing with the whole field in front of you as it is with half the field in front of you and the other half behind you. He's played there before with Liverpool and the national team, but he's not a midfielder, mainly because of the intensity.
*FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page*
Explaining the differences, Mourinho said: "The specific demands of the physical work... It's a very difficult position.
"You need a completely different kind of engine than his, which is more typical of a positional full-back. And he gave his all. When he came off (in the 79th-minute), he had nothing left to give. And I appreciate the effort he made for the team."
It remains to be seen how Mourinho uses Alexander-Arnold, if at all, in Saturday's league match against Rayo Vallecano. They then face Elche next Wednesday, before travelling across the city to Atletico Madrid a week on Sunday.