In the middle again - but Mourinho says Alexander-Arnold 'not a midfielder'
Jose Mourinho has publicly questioned the suitability of Trent Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder following his performance for Real Madrid against Inter Milan. Despite the tactical experiment, Mourinho maintains that the player is not a natural fit for the position.
Why it matters
High-profile tactical decisions in elite football influence team strategies and player career trajectories.
It's the question that just doesn't seem to go away - can Trent Alexander-Arnold really work in midfield?
Gareth Southgate played him there for England during Euro 2024 before ending the experiment after only two group games.
Jurgen Klopp's entire Liverpool gameplan relied on his ability to step into the middle and spray passes around... albeit from a starting position of right-back.
And now Jose Mourinho has become the latest manager to dabble, picking the 27-year-old in midfield for Real Madrid 's Champions League win over Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Having struggled to establish himself as Real's first-choice full-back since moving to the Bernabeu last summer, could this be the moment he finally clicks in the middle of the park?
"He has played midfield with England and Liverpool... but he is not a midfielder," insisted Mourinho after his side's edgy 2-1 win.
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