Robertson feels sorry for Alexander-Arnold as Real Madrid struggles continue under Mourinho

Andrew Robertson has expressed sympathy for Trent Alexander-Arnold, saying his former Liverpool teammate has long carried an unfair stigma over his defending — a burden that has followed him to Real Madrid, where he has started just 14 league games in his debut La Liga campaign.

Speaking on The Overlap, the Scotland international reflected on the contrasting pressures the two full-backs faced during their years together at Anfield. “It’s very different when you are English, compared to another nationality,” Robertson said. “I always said to Trent, ‘I will never get as much high praise as you, but I’ll never get as much criticism as you.’”

Robertson also pointed to the structural differences in how the pair operated under Jürgen Klopp. While Sadio Mané’s pressing provided Robertson with defensive cover on the left, Alexander-Arnold was often left more exposed on the right with Mohamed Salah reluctant to track back. “A lot of times, Trent was waiting on someone like [Jordan Henderson] to come over,” Robertson said. “So, sometimes, I started to feel sorry for him.”

Despite Alexander-Arnold’s difficult first season in Spain — where new manager José Mourinho has preferred Denzel Dumfries at right-back — Robertson was emphatic in his defence of the 26-year-old’s ability. “I’ve seen him lock out [Kylian] Mbappé at PSG. In the Champions League finals, he was unbelievable,” he said. “Trent is a very, very good defender… it’s as if he had this stigma around him, that he can’t defend. And he’s had that from a very early age. It’s as if he can’t shift it.”

Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer after his contract at Liverpool expired, ending a trophy-laden spell at Anfield that included two Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph under Klopp, as well as a further league title under Arne Slot.

Robertson himself departed Liverpool this summer, joining Tottenham Hotspur. The 32-year-old has featured regularly for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, though Spurs have yet to record a Premier League win this season and sit bottom of the table.