Mourinho deploys Alexander-Arnold in midfield but insists 'he is not a midfielder'

José Mourinho has made clear that Trent Alexander-Arnold is “not a midfielder” despite fielding the former Liverpool man in the middle of the park during Real Madrid’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Forced into improvisation by suspensions to Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva, Mourinho paired Alexander-Arnold with Federico Valverde in midfield. It was not the first time the 26-year-old has operated there — Gareth Southgate used him in the role during Euro 2024 before abandoning the experiment after two group games — but Mourinho was quick to frame it as a tactical necessity rather than a permanent repositioning.

“He has played midfield with England and Liverpool… but he is not a midfielder,” Mourinho said. “He has played very well. He has interpreted what he needed to really well, tactically. Both him and Valverde have worked very well at this level.”

Alexander-Arnold created two chances and attempted more crosses than any other Real Madrid player during his time in the role, though he failed to win a single tackle and his passing accuracy dipped to 83.3 per cent. Mourinho attributed the drop-off directly to the positional change.

“He has lost some balls because it is not the same to play in this position compared to at right-back,” the Portuguese coach said. “The intensity of physical work is quite difficult. He has a different engine. He has given 100%. He left the pitch with nothing left to give.”

Alexander-Arnold was substituted in the closing stages as Madrid protected their lead. The result continued Mourinho’s positive start to his second spell at the Bernabéu.

The England international’s move to the Spanish capital has not been without turbulence. His departure from Anfield was acrimonious enough that some Liverpool supporters booed him, and he is now working under his third different Madrid manager. Competition for his natural right-back position has also intensified this season following the club’s signing of Denzel Dumfries, adding to the pressure on Alexander-Arnold to justify his place in the squad.