Trent Alexander-Arnold (foto: Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold impressed in attack with an assist for Mbappé but struggled defensively again, raising concerns after Real Madrid’s defeat to Bayern.
Trent Alexander-Arnold once again showed two completely different faces in Real Madrid’s defeat to Bayern Munich.
It started positively for the Englishman. In his first duel with Luis Díaz, he reacted well and completed a successful defensive action. His main task in the match was clear – to stop the dangerous Colombian.
But that success did not last long.
In their second duel, Díaz got past him and the move ended in a goal. That moment shaped the match, as Real Madrid struggled to recover despite creating several good chances.
They conceded another goal in between and never managed to fully turn the game around.
Still, Alexander-Arnold made an important contribution in attack.
He provided the assist for Kylian Mbappé’s goal in the 74th minute, which kept Real Madrid alive in the tie.
The match, attended by England coach Thomas Tuchel, once again confirmed the core issue with Alexander-Arnold.
He is excellent in attack, technically strong, fast, explosive, and capable of adding a new dimension to his team’s build-up play.
At the same time, he remains problematic in defence. He is often late, his positioning is not optimal, and he sometimes misjudges situations.
This creates a dilemma for both Tuchel and Alvaro Arbeloa. Despite the risks, players with such attacking qualities are rare, and leaving him out is difficult.
However, criticism continues to grow.
Roy Keane did not hold back in his assessment.
"Listen, I've had enough. It's the same story in every important game. People keep talking about how well he passes the ball, but what about the basics? Defending. At this level, in the Champions League, you can't give in like that."
He also referred directly to the situation with Luis Díaz.
"It's a childish mistake. Letting Luis Díaz pass you like you're not even there? Please. He keeps defending like he's never played right-back in his life. Important games require great defenders and he's very far from that at the moment."
The numbers add more context to his season.
Alexander-Arnold has played 23 matches for Real Madrid, recording five assists, but he has also missed several games due to two injuries.
The same question remains after another big night.
Can his attacking brilliance continue to compensate for his defensive weaknesses at the highest level?