Xabi Alonso stated that Trent Alexander-Arnold is “prepared” to start for Real Madrid against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, following his recovery from injury and a challenging reception during his return to Anfield earlier in the week.
In Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold played just nine minutes and faced boos from the crowd at his childhood club. This match marked his first appearance since September due to a hamstring injury.
The England international has only accumulated 165 minutes of playing time for Madrid this season, as he contends with Dani Carvajal—currently injured—and midfielder Federico Valverde for the right-back position.
“Yes, [Trent] is ready. He’s been training for a few weeks,” Alonso mentioned during a press conference on Saturday. “Tomorrow, you’ll find out if he starts or not… Under the circumstances, [Valverde] has performed well in that role and is always prepared to support the team. It’s an option we have.”
Alexander-Arnold, a long-desired player for Madrid, joined the club this past summer, but his influence has been minimal, particularly during the defeat at Anfield.
This defeat adds to Madrid’s list of high-profile losses under Alonso, which includes a 4-0 semifinal defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and a 5-2 derby loss to Atlético Madrid, though they did secure a 2-1 victory over rivals Barcelona last month.
When asked about the statistics indicating Madrid covered less distance (106.5km compared to Liverpool’s 110.2km) in their recent match, Alonso mentioned, “You have to put it into context. We’ve had a variety of games. You should assess the match’s flow, instead of making a judgment based solely on one game… We’ve reviewed our performance and now we must focus on Vallecas.”
“We aim to maintain consistency in our performances,” Alonso added. “However, we recognize that not every match is identical. I have no complaints about my players’ dedication.”
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Alonso also commented on remarks made by former Madrid player Gareth Bale, who is now a pundit. After the Liverpool match, Bale said that coaching Madrid requires “managing egos… rather than solely focusing on tactics.”
“It’s a locker room filled with exceptional players,” Alonso noted. “We are embarking on a new project, and I’m very pleased with our progress.”
Real Madrid currently sits atop LaLiga, leading with 30 points from 11 matches, creating a five-point gap over second-placed Barcelona.