Mourinho insists Alexander-Arnold is not a midfielder after Real Madrid's Champions League win over Inter

Jose Mourinho delivered a candid verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s midfield display after Real Madrid beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in their Champions League league-phase opener, insisting the 27-year-old’s natural home remains at right-back.

Alexander-Arnold was deployed in midfield due to suspensions for Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva, with summer signing Denzel Dumfries filling the right-back role. He had a quiet outing before being replaced by Aurelien Tchouameni late in the second half.

“I thank Trent Alexander-Arnold for his efforts to play in a position that is not his,” Mourinho said. “It’s very clear that his qualities are made for the full-back position, not for midfield. He has played midfield with England and Liverpool … but he is not a midfielder.”

Mourinho was careful to credit the performance within its context. “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.” He added: “He has lost some balls because it is not the same to play in this position compared to at right-back. The intensity of physical work is quite difficult. He has a different engine. He has given 100 per cent. He left the pitch with nothing left to give.”

On the pitch, Real were indebted to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made a string of saves as Inter controlled more than 64 per cent of possession but were undone by two defensive errors. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring after pressuring Yann Bisseck into losing the ball, with Brahim Diaz collecting before teeing up the French striker to finish beneath the goalkeeper. Inter goalkeeper Martinez then gifted Real their second, attempting to dribble past Federico Valverde inside his own area and allowing the midfielder to poke home.

Courtois saved Hakan Calhanoglu’s powerful free kick to keep the hosts ahead, and although Carlos Augusto pulled one back in the 76th minute by converting Lautaro Martinez’s low cross, Real held on for the three points.

Jude Bellingham missed a close-range chance before half-time as Inter maintained pressure throughout, but Courtois’s interventions proved decisive. Alexander-Arnold is expected to return to competing with Dumfries for the starting right-back berth when Madrid host Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.