Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender fails to impress national team coach in crucial World Cup audition
For Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Bayern Munich match was supposed to be an opportunity, a chance to shift the story and remind everyone why he still belongs at the highest level.
Instead, it turned into another performance that raises more questions than answers.
The Real Madrid defender is going through a difficult spell, and recent developments at the international level have only added to the pressure.
Being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad during the final international break before the FIFA World Cup felt like a major setback, almost a closed door.
Yet, Tuchel himself has kept that door slightly open.
What’s the story?
According to The Athletic, the England manager has said that he still wanted to take a closer look before making a final decision, even stating he would watch Alexander-Arnold to form his “last impressions.”
That is exactly why Tuchel was present at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium for the Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich.
But if this was meant to be an audition, it did not quite go to plan.
As such, there were moments that showed his quality. Early in the first half, Alexander-Arnold produced an excellent piece of one-on-one defending against Luis Diaz, a challenge that likely prevented a clear chance.
It was the kind of intervention that often goes unnoticed, but at this level, consistency matters more than flashes because when the two faced off again, the story changed.
Called into question
Diaz got the better of him, and that moment ultimately contributed to the goal that put Real Madrid on the back foot.
It was not an isolated concern either, as shortly before that, Alexander-Arnold had already given the ball away in a dangerous area, an error that Bayern failed to punish.
To his credit, he still made an impact going forward, as his assist for Kylian Mbappe’s goal showed exactly why he remains such a unique profile.
But once again, the same debate resurfaced – does his attacking brilliance compensate for his defensive inconsistency?
Lastly, it must be remembered that one of the problems Tuchel had with Alexander-Arnold’s playing style was his defensive lapses, which is why Ben White was selected ahead of him in the first place.
And if yesterday’s performance is anything to go by, the Real Madrid defender may not have provided the reassurance Tuchel was looking for.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
