As Trent Alexander-Arnold settles into life at Real Madrid, former coach Zinedine Zidane’s warning about his defensive vulnerabilities resurfaces, but Xabi Alonso may already have a tactical plan in motion.
June 24, 2025: Zinedine Zidane may no longer be at the helm of Real Madrid, but his tactical insights continue to echo in the halls of the Bernabéu—especially when it comes to new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold. As the 26-year-old defender completes his second game for Los Blancos, Zidane’s assessment of his biggest weakness has re-entered the conversation.
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The former Liverpool right-back started during Real Madrid’s 3-1 win against Pachuca in the FIFA Club World Cup. While his performance was largely praised by Spanish outlet MARCA for showcasing “composure, positional intelligence, and sharp ball distribution,” the real test is expected when he faces La Liga giants like Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.
In fact, it was Zidane himself who, during a 2021 Champions League clash, pointed out a recurring flaw in Alexander-Arnold’s game.
“Liverpool’s fullbacks go forward a lot, so it worked out well for us and for Vini,” Zidane noted after Real’s 3-1 win against Liverpool. “There was an order to look for long balls behind them when we recovered the ball.”
This observation aligned with long-standing criticisms that Alexander-Arnold’s attacking prowess sometimes comes at the cost of defensive discipline. England’s national team coach Thomas Tuchel echoed that sentiment earlier this year, saying:
“If he wants to have that same impact in the English national team, he has to take the defensive part very seriously.”
Now under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid faces a tactical challenge: How to maximize Trent’s offensive capabilities while minimizing defensive exposure?
Alonso’s Possible Tactical Solutions
So far, Alonso has opted for a 4-3-3 formation—a departure from the 3-4-2-1 system he used at Bayer Leverkusen. But against top-tier opponents, the coach might experiment with a few adjustments:
- Right Wing-Back Role: Deploying Alexander-Arnold as a right wing-back, protected by Dani Carvajal as the right-sided centre-back in a back three.
- Valverde as Shield: Utilizing Fede Valverde to cover the right flank when Alexander-Arnold surges forward—an option made feasible by Valverde’s prior experience at right-back.
Such tweaks would give Alexander-Arnold the license to roam and create while reinforcing Madrid’s back line—a balance Zidane once warned could tip too easily.
Final Word
Trent’s journey at Real Madrid is only just beginning, but old concerns about his defensive awareness still linger. Yet with a tactician like Xabi Alonso at the helm, and teammates like Valverde and Carvajal available to support, Real Madrid might just have the tools to unlock his full potential without the liability.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold, Zinedine Zidane, Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid, Liverpool, defensive weakness, La Liga, Club World Cup, Dani Carvajal, Fede Valverde, Thomas Tuchel, tactical analysis, football transfer, football tactics, Trent Real Madrid debut, Marca, Zidane on Trent