“Very worrying”: Spanish press hammer Real Madrid defender

March 9, 2026 Oliver Obel

Real Madrid may have secured a dramatic victory over Celta Vigo on Friday night, but much of the Spanish media reaction focused on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive display.

Several outlets in Spain delivered blunt assessments of the England international after Madrid’s 95th-minute winner sealed a narrow victory at the Estadio de Balaidos.

Federico Valverde struck deep into stoppage time to earn Carlo Ancelotti’s side three crucial points, moving them to within one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona ahead of the Catalan club’s match against Athletic Bilbao.

Alexander-Arnold started the match and played a role in Madrid’s opening goal, providing the corner that allowed Aurelien Tchouameni to score in the first half. Despite that contribution, his defensive performance became a major talking point in post-match coverage.

Marca delivers blunt assessment

Spanish newspaper Marca was particularly critical of the right-back, suggesting the defensive issues highlighted in the match have long been part of his game.

In its report, the outlet wrote:
"Don't be shocked by Alexander-Arnold. He's always been like this."

Marca also referenced comments previously attributed to former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, writing:
"Klopp said it himself right after leaving Liverpool: 'I just failed to teach him how to defend'."

The newspaper argued that while Alexander-Arnold’s passing range and attacking influence remain major strengths, his defensive positioning again came under scrutiny during Celta Vigo’s opening goal.

Questions about his adaptation

Radio broadcaster Cadena SER also reflected on the defender’s adjustment to Spanish football, suggesting his early period in Madrid has not been straightforward.

"It's clear that Trent Alexander-Arnold's adaptation to Real Madrid has been difficult, but in the few minutes he's played this season, due to injuries, he's already made headlines," the outlet said.

"The Englishman proved to be one of the best right-backs in the world at Liverpool, but his strengths aren't the typical ones associated with the position."

Low rating from SPORT

Catalan publication SPORT delivered one of the harshest verdicts, awarding Alexander-Arnold a rating of three out of ten for his performance.

"Trent's situation is very worrying," the outlet wrote.

"The Englishman is a problem in defence for Real Madrid, as demonstrated by Celta's first goal. He was very weak defensively and completely outmatched in every aspect of the game."

"To make matters worse, he's lost what little he contributed in attack. If Carvajal recovers somewhat, he'll be back in the starting line-up."

While Madrid ultimately secured the victory thanks to Valverde’s late strike, the debate around Alexander-Arnold’s defensive reliability is likely to continue as the season progresses.

Sources: Marca, Cadena SER, SPORT