Madrid coach admits Madrid are “lucky” to have a player like the England defender
Alvaro Arbeloa has revealed he was left surprised by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s “understanding of the game” after the right-back returned to Real Madrid’s starting lineup to help them dispatch Real Sociedad.
Alexander-Arnold was highly impressive with his passing, fashioning the first goal within five minutes with a delightful floated pass that youngster Gonzalo Garcia tapped in. He also ripped Sociedad’s defence apart when he flighted the ball into Federico Valverde’s path on the right wing, but this time Garcia wasted a square pass.
“It was a nice surprise to see how he understands the game, how he sees the spaces,” Arbeloa said. “Those things are very important for a coach, having players who understand what we want.
“Working with him, he strikes me as a very intelligent guy, who understands the game very well, and quickly grasps what we want from him. He’s not the typical full-back who’s always going to be out wide. He can also play centrally.
“We want players to be able to interchange positions. We’re lucky to have a player like that.”
📸 – LOOK AT THIS SENSATIONAL ASSIST BY TRENT ALEXANDER ARNOLD!
THIS IS WHY HE IS THE BEST RIGHT BACK IN THE WORLD! pic.twitter.com/VMEh33u3iN
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) February 14, 2026
Another player who impressed was Vinicius. Even though there may be criticism of his penalties in some corners, the forward won and converted two to make it five goals in his last nine games after enduring a 17-game goal drought earlier in the season.
“I’ve been seeing a great Vini for a month now, not just in this match,” Arbeloa said. “He’s been playing at a very high level since I arrived, being a game-changer, as he was today, and scoring goals and providing assists on other days.
“He’s a player who goes beyond the numbers because of how he can influence matches, the number of players he draws in, and how he affects opposing defences and teams.
“He’s one of the best in the world, and it’s a privilege to coach him. He’s a fantastic guy with a huge heart. He’s a great teammate, a great player, and it’s a blessing to have him with me.”
Kylian Mbappe was left on the bench despite Arbeloa saying in his pre-match conference that the forward had recovered from fitness concerns earlier in the week. The manager allayed fears of any further trouble.
“He’s doing very well,” Arbeloa said. “Obviously, as you know, he’s been dealing with these minor knee issues for quite some time this season. He’s putting in a great effort every time he goes out on the pitch, and we’ve decided not to take any risks so that he’s ready to start the game on Tuesday [against Benfica in the Champions League]. That’s how it will be.”
