Trent Alexander-Arnold`s transfer to Real Madrid, the dominant Champions League club, was anticipated to mark a fresh beginning. However, just over three months since leaving Liverpool, persistent questions about the uniquely talented right-back are resurfacing. Debates continue regarding his optimal position—midfield or defense—and his precise role within the England national team.
This issue gained prominence again when England manager Thomas Tuchel excluded Alexander-Arnold from the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia. Tuchel clarified that this was not a permanent exclusion, but rather an opportunity for Alexander-Arnold to «settle and find his rhythm» at Real Madrid. The England manager had previously admitted that including Alexander-Arnold in the June international camp had overlooked the significant personal and professional adjustments involved in his first-ever club transfer. Tuchel reiterated his strong admiration for Trent.
Key Information: England vs. Andorra Match Details
- Date: Saturday, September 6
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Location: Villa Park, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Broadcast: FS2
- Streaming: Fubo
- Betting Odds: England -3300; Draw +1800; Andorra +12500
While Tuchel`s statements might be accurate, recent observations suggest he is still determining Alexander-Arnold`s optimal role in high-stakes matches. Throughout a typical domestic season, Alexander-Arnold`s significant attacking contributions often compensate for his defensive vulnerabilities. In the five Premier League seasons preceding the current one, only Bruno Fernandes surpassed him in expected assists, and no other player delivered more passes into the attacking third. Managers like Jurgen Klopp and, to a lesser extent, Arne Slot, structured their team`s ball progression and chance creation strategies around him, utilizing his ability to contribute offensively from a more central or advanced position, understanding that his goals and assists would outweigh any defensive exposure.
However, in knockout competitions, the tactical approach shifts. Tuchel, known for his cautious, possession-based philosophy, learned during his time at Chelsea that a strong defensive foundation and the ability to keep clean sheets significantly increase a team`s chances of success in major tournaments. Despite his recent encouraging words for Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel`s earlier comments, made before the summer matches where he favored Kyle Walker and even an out-of-position Curtis Jones, appear more indicative of his long-term concerns.
«The significant influence Alexander-Arnold has had at Liverpool for years,» Tuchel stated, «must be matched by a serious commitment to defensive duties if he wishes to replicate that impact with the English national team. In the context of qualifying and tournament football, a single defensive lapse, a moment of inattention, can be decisive—it can mean packing your bags and heading home.»
Alexander-Arnold has experienced such moments previously. Despite his excellent performance during Liverpool`s 2022 Champions League final run, a lapse in concentration at the back post midway through the first half allowed Vinicius Junior to score the sole goal of the match. This raises questions about Tuchel`s willingness to rely on him against Serbia next week, and particularly in high-stakes matches next summer. The decision becomes even more complex given the availability of a reinvigorated Reece James and Tino Livramento. Furthermore, Ben White`s absence from the England squad has concluded, and he might have been considered this month if not for an injury sustained with Arsenal.
Alexander-Arnold encounters comparable challenges at Real Madrid`s Santiago Bernabeu stadium. He has already experienced being benched, though this is perhaps unsurprising given that club captain Dani Carvajal also occupies the right-back position. While there`s no major concern for his long-term prospects—he notably excelled upon his return to the starting lineup against Mallorca, only missing an assist due to a VAR-called offside by Kylian Mbappe—his adjustment to the club is a topic of discussion in the Spanish media. His home debut saw him labeled «timid,» and his decisions criticized as «conservative.» Even during the Club World Cup, speculation arose about his long-term suitability for central midfield, a debate that has followed his career, despite his struggles in that role during Euro 2024 seemingly providing a definitive answer.
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has worked to mitigate these discussions, asserting last month that the competition between Carvajal and Alexander-Arnold for the right-back spot «significantly enhances squad quality.» He later confirmed that selection decisions would be based on the specific skills required for each match. Considering a potentially 60-game season following a Club World Cup summer, a flexible approach to squad positions at Real Madrid is logical. This flexibility is particularly relevant given Alexander-Arnold`s hurried return from an ankle injury last season for his Liverpool farewell, immediately followed by international duty, a major summer tournament, and a truncated break filled with the complexities of relocating from Merseyside to Madrid.
However, Alexander-Arnold is keen to alter this narrative. He has openly discussed his ambition to win the Ballon d`Or, and in a recent interview with GQ Spain, expressed a «desire to test myself in a new context.» While he is undoubtedly facing that challenge early in his Real Madrid career, achieving football`s top individual honors will require him to secure an undisputed starting position, not a shared one.
To become an undisputed starter for both club and country, Alexander-Arnold`s defensive improvement would be crucial. This would help bridge the perceived gap with Carvajal`s defensive solidity and alleviate Tuchel`s concerns regarding his performance in major international fixtures. Notably, Alexander-Arnold showed defensive progress last season under Arne Slot, who utilized him in a more conservative role.
Despite recent efforts, the perception surrounding Alexander-Arnold hasn`t shifted significantly. With the England manager`s decisions seemingly aligning with the doubts of many critics, Alexander-Arnold faces a difficult task in addressing these long-standing questions about his game.
Uzbek (Lotincha)
Trent Alexander-Arnoldning Angliya terma jamoasidagi kelajagi: Real Madridga o`tish ortidan savollar paydo bo`lmoqda
Chempionlar Ligasi doimiy g`olibi «Real Madrid»ga o`tish Trent Aleksandr-Arnold uchun yangi boshlanishni anglatishi kerak edi. Ammo «Liverpul»dan ketganiga uch oydan sal ko`proq vaqt o`tgan bo`lishiga qaramay, sayyoradagi eng yorqin, ammo o`ziga xos o`ng qanot himoyachisi haqida tanish savollar yana ko`tarilmoqda. U himoyadan ko`ra yarim himoyada yaxshiroq o`ynaydimi? Angliya terma jamoasida uning roli qanday bo`lishi kerak?
Bu masala Angliya terma jamoasi bosh murabbiyi Tomas Tuxelning Aleksandr-Arnoldni Andorra va Serbiya bilan bo`ladigan Jahon chempionati saralash o`yinlariga chaqirmasligi bilan yana bir bor kun tartibiga chiqdi. Tuxel bu qarorni «Real Madrid» futbolchisini butunlay chetga surish emas, balki unga Ispaniya poytaxtida «moslashish va o`z ritmini topish uchun fursat berish» deb tushuntirdi. Angliya murabbiyi avvalroq Aleksandr-Arnoldni iyun oyidagi xalqaro yig`inga chaqirish, uning faoliyatidagi birinchi transferi bilan bog`liq shaxsiy va professional qiyinchiliklarni noto`g`ri baholaganini tan olgan edi. Tuxel «Trentning katta muxlisi» bo`lib qolmoqda.
Asosiy ma`lumotlar: Angliya – Andorra o`yini tafsilotlari
- Sana: Shanba, 6-sentabr
- Vaqti: ET bo`yicha 12:00
- Manzil: Villa Park, Birmingem, Buyuk Britaniya
- Telekanal: FS2
- Jonli efir: Fubo
- Tikish koeffitsientlari: Angliya -3300; Durang +1800; Andorra +12500
Yuqorida aytilganlarning barchasi to`g`ri bo`lishi mumkin, ammo so`nggi ma`lumotlar shuni ko`rsatadiki, Tuxel eng muhim o`yinlarda Aleksandr-Arnoldni jamoasiga qanday joylashtirish haqida hali ham o`ylanmoqda. Mahalliy mavsum davomida Aleksandr-Arnold himoyadagi zaifliklarini to`pni nazorat qilishdagi ijodkorligi bilan to`liq qoplay olishini isbotladi. Ushbu mavsumdan oldingi besh Premer-liga mavsumida faqat Bruno Fernandes kutilgan gollar bo`yicha Aleksandr-Arnolddan ustun kelgan. Butun musobaqa davomida hech kim hujum uchligiga undan ko`proq pas uzatmagan. Yurgen Klopp va biroz kamroq darajada Arne Slot to`pni oldinga siljitish va golli vaziyatlar yaratish rejalarini o`z o`ng qanot himoyachisi atrofida qurib, uni oldinga va markazga yaqinroq harakatlantirishgan, chunki ular u erdan raqiblar bo`shatgan joylarga hujum qilishdan ko`ra ko`proq gol yaratishini bilishgan.
Ammo pley-off o`yinlarida hisob-kitob biroz boshqacha bo`lishi kerak. Ehtiyotkorlik bilan to`pni nazorat qilish uslubi bilan tanilgan Tuxel, «Chelsi»dagi tajribasidan biladiki, agar sizning asosiy turnirda boshlang`ich nuqtaniz eng ko`p o`yinni o`z darvozangizga gol o`tkazmasdan yakunlagan jamoa bo`lsa, g`alaba qozonish uchun juda yaxshi imkoniyatga egasiz. Shuning uchun, o`tgan hafta Aleksandr-Arnoldga bildirgan barcha dalda beruvchi so`zlariga qaramay, nemis murabbiyining eng muhim izohlari, u Kayl Uoker va o`z joyida o`ynamagan Kertis Jonsni afzal ko`rgan yozgi o`yinlardan oldin aytilgan edi.
«Uning «Liverpul» uchun shu qadar ko`p yillar davomida ko`rsatgan katta ta`siri… agar u Angliya terma jamoasida ham shunday ta`sir ko`rsatmoqchi bo`lsa, himoyadagi vazifasiga juda jiddiy yondashishi kerak,» dedi Tuxel. «Chunki biz ayniqsa saralash o`yinlari va keyin turnir futboli haqida gapiradigan bo`lsak, bitta himoyadagi xato, 100% uyg`oq bo`lmagan bir lahza hal qiluvchi bo`lishi mumkin. Bu sizning sumkalaringizni yig`ib, uyga ketishingiz kerak bo`lgan lahza bo`lishi mumkin.»
Bu Aleksandr-Arnold bilan ilgari ham sodir bo`lgan. U «Liverpul»ning 2022-yilgi Chempionlar Ligasi finaliga yo`l olishida ajoyib o`ynagan, ammo birinchi bo`lim o`rtalarida orqa ustunda uyquga ketib, Vinisius Juniorga uning yonidan o`tib, o`yinning yagona golini urishiga imkon bergan. Bu Aleksandr-Arnoldga keyingi hafta Serbiyada, kelgusi yozda shon-shuhrat yoki sharmandalik bo`ladigan paytda-ku, umuman gapirmasa ham bo`ladi, Tuxel ishonishga tayyormi degan savollarni tug`diradi. Angliya terma jamoasida kuchga to`lgan Ris Jeyms va Tino Livramento ham borligini hisobga olsak, bu savolning javobi ancha boshqacha bo`lishi mumkin. Ben Uaytning Angliya terma jamoasidagi «surguni» ham tugagan; agar u «Arsenal»da olgan jarohati bo`lmaganda, bu oyda u terma jamoa tarkibiga kirishi mumkin edi.
«Real Madrid»ning «Santyago Bernabeu» stadionida Aleksandr-Arnoldni shunga o`xshash qiyinchiliklar kutmoqda. U allaqachon asosiy tarkibdan tushib qolish azobini his qildi, ammo «Madrid»ning boshqa o`ng qanot himoyachisi klub sardori Dani Karvaxal bo`lganida bunga hayron bo`lish kerakmi? Aleksandr-Arnoldning uzoq muddatli kelajagi haqida katta tashvishlanishga asos yo`q – u «Malorka»ga qarshi o`yinda asosiy tarkibga qaytganida ta`sirchan o`ynadi, Kylian Mbappe tomonidan VAR sababli ofsayd deb topilgan golli pasdan mahrum bo`ldi – ammo angliyalik futbolchining moslashishi Ispaniya matbuotida allaqachon muhokama mavzusiga aylangan. U o`z uyidagi debyutida «qo`rqoq» deb ataldi va uning qarorlari «konservativ» deb qoralandi. Hatto Klublar o`rtasidagi Jahon chempionatida ham yangi futbolchining uzoq muddatli kelajagi markaziy yarim himoyada bo`lishi mumkinmi degan savollar paydo bo`lgan edi, bu Aleksandr-Arnoldning butun faoliyati davomida kuzatilgan bahs-munozara bo`lib, Yevro-2024 dagi bu pozitsiyadagi qiyinchiliklari unga asosan javob bergandek tuyulganiga qaramay.
Uning murabbiyi Xabi Alonso bu masalalarni yumshatish uchun ko`p ishlarni qildi, o`tgan oyda Karvaxal va Aleksandr-Arnoldning bir joy uchun raqobatlashishi «jamoa saviyasini oshirish uchun ajoyib» ekanligini ta`kidladi va keyinchalik u har bir o`yin uchun mos keladigan ko`nikmalarga asoslanib qarorlar qabul qilishini aytdi. Klublar o`rtasidagi Jahon chempionatidan keyingi yozda potentsial 60 ta o`yin o`tkazishni hisobga olsak, «Madrid» tarkibida ko`plab pozitsiyalar o`zgaruvchan bo`lishi mantiqan to`g`ri keladi. Bu, ayniqsa, Aleksandr-Arnold o`tgan mavsumda «Liverpul» bilan xayrlashish uchun to`pig`idan olgan jarohatidan shoshilinch ravishda qaytganini, so`ngra darhol xalqaro o`yinlarga, yozgi turnirga va Mersisayddan Madridga ko`chishning amaliyotlari bilan band bo`ladigan qisqartirilgan yozgi ta`tilga kirganini hisobga olsak, yanada to`g`riroqdir.
Biroq, Aleksandr-Arnold buni o`zgartirmoqchi. U «Oltin to`p»ni yutish istaklari haqida gapirgan va «GQ Spain»ga bergan so`nggi intervyusida «yangi sharoitlarda o`zini sinab ko`rish istagi» haqida fikr bildirgan. U albatta bu qiyinchilikka erta duch kelmoqda, ammo u o`yinlardagi eng katta individual sovrinlarni ikkinchi darajali rolda turib yuta olmaydi.
U klub va mamlakat uchun munozarasiz asosiy o`yinchiga aylanish uchun nima qilishi mumkin? Himoyada oldinga siljish shubhasiz yordam beradi, bu Karvaxalning undan ustunligini kamaytiradi va Tuxelning eng yirik xalqaro o`yinlardagi o`yinlari haqidagi shubhalarini yengillashtiradi. Uning sharafli tomoni shundaki, Aleksandr-Arnold o`tgan mavsumda Slot tomonidan yanada konservativ uslubda ishlatilganida himoyada yaxshilandi.
Ammo hozircha o`tgan mavsum Aleksandr-Arnold atrofidagi kayfiyatni o`zgartirgani yo`q. Angliya terma jamoasi murabbiyining harakatlari ko`plab skeptiklarning fikrini qo`llab-quvvatlayotganini ko`rsatsa, Aleksandr-Arnoldga juda tanish savollarga javob berish qiyin bo`ladi.
