SPANISH PRESS BLASTS TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD: 'LOST LIKE A RABBIT IN HEADLIGHTS'
Real Madrid is in crisis: players split over Alonso's strict style, with Vinicius Jr. unhappy. Trent Alexander-Arnold's form is suffering in the chaos.
Trent Alexander-Arnold isn't having the easiest time in Spain, with some of the local football press calling him clueless.
After leaving Liverpool to chase a Ballon d'Or with Real Madrid, his start hasn't exactly been smooth.
After a 1-1 tie with Girona, Marca didn't hold back.
Alfredo Relano, a well-known Spanish football writer, didn't mince words about the 27-year-old.
He wrote that Trent seems lost and unsure, like a rabbit in the headlights.
He added that while his set-piece ability is there, he's nonexistent in regular play.
Alexander-Arnold almost gave away a goal with a bad pass in the Girona game, and his crosses were uncharacteristically off-target.
After starting matches against Elche and Olympiacos, it seemed like he was starting to impress people.
As noted, his ability to create chances and said he's becoming the team's set-piece guy under Xabi Alonso.
But things can change quickly at Real, and with the team struggling, Alexander-Arnold is getting heat.
He was even booed by Liverpool fans during a Champions League loss at Anfield.
The way he left Liverpool still stings for supporters. He let his contract run down, so the club only got £10 million for him, even though he had talked about staying at Liverpool forever and becoming captain.
He chose to go to Real, but so far, he hasn't made a big impact.
The right-back hasn't scored or assisted in LaLiga or the Champions League yet.
He's only played a full 90 minutes twice in the Spanish league and was on the bench for the win against Barcelona.
He's competing with Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde for a spot in the lineup, and he's also dealt with injuries early in the season.
Alonso is sticking with Alexander-Arnold. Before the Girona game, he mentioned that it's his first year and that this adjustment period is normal.
Relano didn't just criticise Alexander-Arnold; he also blasted the team in general, saying it's too reliant on Mbappé and Courtois.
Alexander-Arnold is also trying to fit in while there's tension in the Real Madrid locker room.
Reports in Spain say that some of the team's key players are split on whether they support Alonso.
Alonso is said to have a more hands-on style than managers like Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, with strict rules about bad habits and the idea that players have to earn their place every time they train.
Mundo Deportivo says that players like Vinicius Jr., Fede Valverde, Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo, Endrick, and Ferland Mendy aren't happy with Alonso's approach.
Vinicius Jr seems to be the most vocal, reportedly saying, "I'm going to leave this team after being subbed out during El Clásico." He also didn't mention Alonso when he apologised on social media.
There are rumours that Vinicius Jr. might not extend his contract, which ends in 2027, under the current situation.
Real is currently four points behind Barcelona in LaLiga.
It will be interesting to see if Alonso continues to play Alexander-Arnold or goes with Valverde, as Carvajal is out with a knee injury until next year.
KYLIAN MBAPPé FIT FOR MUNICH; REAL MADRID EYE ANOTHER LEGENDARY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REVERSAL
Kylian Mbappé is fit! Real Madrid face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. See the full UCL lineup and Arbeloa's plan.
The second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich kicks off on Wednesday at the Allianz Arena, and now Kylian Mbappe’s injury status is clear.
Madrid trails 2-1 on aggregate after losing to Bayern at home at the Bernabeu last week, with Mbappe grabbing their only goal late in the match.
What happened to Mbappe? Last Friday against Girona, he took a nasty hit to the face from Vitor Reis. Blood everywhere, a deep cut, and in the end, stitches across his forehead.
People worried about a concussion, but Mbappe got cleared for Sunday’s training. He showed up with a big bandage on his head, looking ready to go to Munich. Still, he skipped the next day’s session, resting up because he was sore, but Madrid said he could travel, and by Tuesday, he was back on the Allianz Arena pitch with the team.
Madrid’s official update: Mbappe took part in multiple drills, joined in tactical exercises, and finished up with some shooting drills. He looked comfortable.
So, here’s where things stand for the Bayern match: Fabrizio Romano says Mbappe will play. Not just available, he’s expected to start for Alvaro Arbeloa, with Jude Bellingham also back in the eleven.
Bellingham has returned for Madrid’s last three games after a long injury spell and started against Girona. He knows Bayern well, having played against them during his Borussia Dortmund days.
Mbappe and Bellingham are both fit for Munich, but Madrid will miss Rodrygo, Thibaut Courtois, and Raul Asensio due to injuries. Plus, Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended after picking up his third yellow card of the tournament in the first leg.
Still, Arbeloa has options he can turn to Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Thiago Pitarch, or Dani Ceballos to fill Tchouameni’s spot.
Looking ahead to the match, Arbeloa sounds confident, especially now that Mbappé is fit.
“We’re Real Madrid. If there’s one team that comes to this stadium and turns things around, it’s us,” Arbeloa said. “We never give up. We’ve got 15 European Cups. Whether we go through with our badge or on top of it, we’ll fight. And honestly, we don’t need miracles. We could’ve won the first leg; nothing crazy about that.”
Madrid has a good history in Munich; they haven’t lost at the Allianz Arena in their last four trips. They won in 2014, 2017, and 2018; then their most recent clash was a 2-2 draw in the Champions League semi-final first leg earlier this year.
Now, with Mbappé and Bellingham ready, Madrid’s out to flip the script against Bayern just like they’ve done so many times before.
ARBELOA CLAIMS MBAPPE PENALTY WAS VISIBLE FROM SPACE FOLLOWING GIRONA STALEMATE
Alvaro Arbeloa slams VAR for a "moon penalty" snub. Discover why Real Madrid is 6 points behind Barcelona today.
Alvaro Arbeloa wasn't holding back, criticising the decision not to give Kylian Mbappe a penalty, a moment that saw Real Madrid's La Liga title ambitions take yet another hit after their draw with Girona.
On Friday night, Real Madrid ultimately drew 1-1 with Girona; Federico Valverde's second-half goal was ultimately nullified by Thomas Lemar.
In the game's final moments, the home side was visibly incensed, believing Mbappe should have been awarded a crucial late penalty.
Mbappe had driven into the Girona penalty area when he was met by the outstretched arm of defender Vitor Reis.
The French forward subsequently fell to the ground inside the box, but his protests for a spot-kick were dismissed by both the referee and VAR.
The impact left Mbappe with blood on his face, compelling the Real Madrid star to seek treatment above his right eye after being struck by Reis' elbow.
Kylian Mbappe's face was bloodied following the elbow strike he sustained during the match against Girona.
Although the Real Madrid forward fell inside the area after contact from an outstretched arm, his pleas for a penalty went unheeded.
Despite the Real Madrid star needing medical attention, the VAR system ultimately chose not to intervene and award the spot-kick.
"That's a penalty call here on Earth, and it's a penalty on the moon," Arbeloa candidly told reporters after the match.
"It's just another one of those moments, another week where this happens. It simply is what it is, and nobody, myself included, truly grasps it."
"When exactly does VAR decide to step in? It seems to intervene only when it's convenient for them, and when it's not, it doesn't."
"You're already familiar with my stance on these matters; the evidence consistently supports it."
"It was a clear foul; in fact, they called a lesser foul on Kylian earlier that wasn't even close to being a penalty."
"We've faced numerous issues with officials. Whether it's this incident or the one in Mallorca, it often feels like the same narrative unfolding."
This draw consequently inflicted further harm on Real Madrid's prospects of closing the gap on their rivals Barcelona in the La Liga title race.
Arbeloa's team now trails Barcelona by six points, and the Catalan side still holds a game in hand.
Alvaro Arbeloa vocally criticised the officiating decisions made during their draw with Girona.
Thomas Lemar's equalising goal unfortunately led to Real Madrid losing additional points in the La Liga title contention.
As it stands, Real Madrid finds itself six points adrift of Barcelona, with the latter possessing a game yet to be played.
Barcelona has the opportunity to extend its lead to nine points when they host Espanyol on Saturday afternoon.
Real Madrid's focus will now inevitably shift back to the Champions League, where they aim to overcome a first-leg deficit against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
During the midweek fixture, Arbeloa's squad suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to the formidable German side.
The crucial return leg is scheduled to take place at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
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