Xabi Alonso’s Confidence in Trent Alexander-Arnold
Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s coach, expressed confidence in Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s readiness to play against Rayo Vallecano following his recovery from an injury. After facing a challenging atmosphere during his limited nine-minute appearance in the recent 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, where he received unwelcoming shouts from the home crowd, the England international is set to make a significant contribution this Sunday.
Alexander-Arnold’s Season So Far
Alexander-Arnold, a player long sought after by Madrid, joined the club last summer but has only seen 165 minutes on the pitch this season, hampered by competition from Dani Carvajal, who is currently injured, and midfielder Federico Valverde, who temporarily filled in at right-back. Alonso stated in a press conference,
“Yes, [Trent] is ready; he’s been training for a few weeks. Tomorrow you’ll know if he starts or not… Valverde has performed well in that position, but we have options.”
Team Outlook and Performance Analysis
Despite his limited impact so far, particularly in the disheartening defeat at Anfield, the team remains optimistic. Alonso acknowledged the challenges they faced against Liverpool but emphasized the need to assess their performance in a broader context.
“You have to put it in context. We’ve had every kind of game. You can’t make a conclusive judgment based on just one game. We’ve analyzed it as a team, and now we shift our focus to Vallecas,”
he remarked.
Current Standing and Future Goals
Real Madrid goes into the Rayo Vallecano match with a solid position at the top of LaLiga, boasting 30 points from 11 games, giving them a five-point lead over second-place Barcelona. Alonso remains focused on maintaining consistency while recognizing the variability of match conditions, stating,
“I have no complaints about my players’ attitude.”
He also addressed comments made by former player Gareth Bale regarding the complexities of being a Madrid coach, noting,
“It’s a dressing room filled with great players. We’re embarking on a new project, and I’m pleased with our progress.”
Commitment to Development
In a season marked by a mix of highs and lows, including a string of tough losses such as the 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semifinal and a 5-2 setback against Atlético Madrid, Alonso remains committed to developing the squad going forward.
