Trent lost his quality on his first day at Real Madrid

Trent Alexander-Arnold has just made his debut for Real Madrid.

“The moment of truth has come,” declared Xabi Alonso. “Tomorrow, the ‘rock and roll’ begins.” It was not only a declaration of war for Real Madrid in a new era, but also the opening sentence of the first chapter of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s journey in the Spanish capital.

Alexander-Arnold is too cautious

The 1-1 draw against Al Hilal at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ in the early morning of June 19 was not exactly a shock, but it was enough to bring people back to earth after romantic expectations. Real Madrid were not bad, but not good enough either.

And for Alexander-Arnold, it was not a dazzling debut like Jude Bellingham had. In the 30-degree heat and over 60% humidity of Miami, people witnessed a right-back who was a "conductor" at Liverpool, now reserved and hesitant in his new role.

From the first glance when he stepped onto the pitch, Alexander-Arnold was no longer himself - at least not the version that had confidently rushed forward, launching passes that broke the structure of the opposition's defense. He was quiet, almost giving the stage to his teammates who were used to the Madrid spotlight. When Jude Bellingham, five years his junior, performed the spirited warm-up ritual, Arnold stood by and watched silently - like a stranger who had just entered a prestigious club.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was cautious against Al Hilal.

In the first half, Alexander-Arnold played cautiously to the point of obscurity. Instead of pushing forward as he naturally would, he was held back by defensive pressure. Perhaps it was the rigour of Real Madrid’s defensive system – where a mistake can be scrutinised under a microscope – that kept him from “showing his best”.

Ironically, Al Hilal were most aggressive on the former Liverpool man's flank, leaving Rodrygo's flank as the most vulnerable. His loss of Renan Lodi - who then scored (albeit offside) - was a prime example of defensive confusion.

However, it was not all negative. After the break, coach Xabi Alonso could be seen asking his players to play more proactively, and Alexander-Arnold clearly responded.

He began to push forward, getting more involved in counter-attacks and having a hand in the build-up to Gonzalo Garcia's opener. However, with the clock ticking down to 65 minutes, he was replaced by Lucas Vazquez - perhaps to avoid exhaustion in the harsh conditions.

After the match, the England international said sincerely: “This is the first time I have changed clubs. I don’t know what to expect, and it is a big change. But I have loved every minute of it.” It is the affirmation of a man who knows the road ahead will not be easy, but is not backing down.

Alexander-Arnold must act

In terms of media, Alexander-Arnold is clearly a “Galactico” in the true sense of Real Madrid. On the day he played, he received one of the three loudest cheers at the Hard Rock Stadium, alongside Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric.

Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to show more in the coming time.

Photos of Alexander-Arnold wearing a baseball shirt have been circulating on social media at the club, which has three times the number of followers as Liverpool. Diario AS even said: “Clearly, a star has been signed.”

But they also point out his weaknesses. Since his Premier League debut in 2016, Alexander-Arnold is the most dribbled defender in the league.

Xabi Alonso doesn't shy away from it: "He has the quality to make a difference with the ball, but he is still a defender, and he has to defend." A gentle reminder, but sharp enough.

The draw with Al Hilal not only revealed the collective problems of Real Madrid - a team in the process of rebuilding - but also gave Alexander-Arnold his first test in a much harsher environment than the Premier League. Without the familiar touchline at Anfield, without the tactical protection of Jurgen Klopp, he now faces the challenge of perfecting himself to be worthy of the royal white shirt.

The Real Madrid adventure has only just begun. And if Trent Alexander-Arnold is to survive – let alone shine – he must turn the doubts into motivation. As he says himself: “I know I made the right decision.” But only time will tell.

Xabi Alonso's Real was held to a draw by Saudi Arabia's representative. In the early morning of June 19, Real had a 1-1 draw with Al Hilal in Group H, FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

Source: https://znews.vn/trent-mat-chat-trong-ngay-dau-khoac-ao-real-madrid-post1562037.html