Former Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly impressed Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho with his versatility, starting in midfield during the team's Champions League clash against Inter Milan
Jose Mourinho is trying to get the best out of Trent Alexander-Arnold
Jose Mourinho is trying to get the best out of Trent Alexander-Arnold(Image: Getty Images)
It's claimed that Jose Mourinho regards Trent Alexander-Arnold as a cut above typical full-backs owing to his ability to invert and influence play through central areas.
The former Liverpool vice-captain is understood to have caught the eye of Real Madrid's new head coach with his performances and adaptability. Alexander-Arnold, 27, was deployed in midfield during the team's Champions League clash against Inter Milan on Tuesday, having previously featured at right-back in La Liga.
It was only his second start of the campaign, after being named among the substitutes in Madrid's other three fixtures. Denzel Dumfries has started all but one of Madrid's matches at right-back, though both players were able to feature from the off against Inter.
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BBC Sport claims that Alexander-Arnold has caught Mourinho's eye with his displays thus far, with the Portuguese boss particularly valuing his positional flexibility. According to the BBC, Mourinho "views Alexander-Arnold as different" from other right-backs.
His ability to operate in midfield while nominally lining up as a full-back is reportedly the key reason the manager holds him in higher regard than his peers.
Mourinho spoke extensively about Alexander-Arnold during his post-match press conference, acknowledging that for midfield partner Federico Valverde: "It's difficult to play with Trent, to whom I'm very grateful for the work he did.
Alexander-Arnold is no longer Real Madrid's first-choice right-back
Alexander-Arnold is no longer Real Madrid's first-choice right-back(Image: Getty Images)
"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."
When pressed on his decision to select Alexander-Arnold ahead of other midfield options, Mourinho added: "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."
Elaborating on the distinctions, Mourinho commented: "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."
Whether Mourinho will deploy Alexander-Arnold, and in what capacity, remains uncertain ahead of Saturday's league fixture against Rayo Vallecano.
Madrid subsequently takes on Elche the following Wednesday, before crossing the city to face Atletico Madrid a week on Sunday.