England manager Thomas Tuchel has come out to explain the evidence behind snubbing Trent Alexander-Arnold from his Three Lions squad.
The international break, whenever it arrives during the long, drawn-out Premier League season, is sometimes a pain for fans to contend with.
Ultimately, while neutral supporters far and wide do like to cheer on their nation, it doesn’t come close to the domestic offerings when the hustle and the bustle of the top-flight is in full swing.
Liverpool fans will have looked at the squad announcement today for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan with some intrigue, though, with several former players selected by the German.
None of Slot’s current group were included, but former youth defender Jarell Quansah has been selected, amid claims he could return to Anfield, as has ex-Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
Rather surprisingly, though, Tuchel has omitted Alexander-Arnold from this squad announcement, despite the 27-year-old beginning to settle into his new Real Madrid setting.
Against Manchester City, during Madrid’s triumphant second leg victory at the Etihad, Alexander-Arnold stood out, with five duels won and one key pass amassed.
Tuchel clearly wasn’t that impressed, himself, as he now explains his thinking surrounding the Englishman being left in Spain.
The reasons behind Tuchel’s omission
Ultimately, ever since he put pen to paper on a £10m move to the Santiago Bernabeu, Alexander-Arnold has found the transition from his boyhood employers to the La Liga giants to be tricky.
Only starting eight league games so far this season, it’s a far cry from his vital role at Liverpool, when he was clinching trophies galore under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot.
The German, when speaking to the media right after his squad announcement, must have been prepared for an onslaught of questions about the unfortunate number 12.
Noted as being a “sporting decision” due to the other options at his disposal, Tuchel didn’t shy away from answering.
He said: “Tough decision for Trent, as it is for Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw. These decisions come with the job. It’s a sporting decision.
“Tino Livramento and Djed Spence can play for us on the right, Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin can play up front.
The right-backs (we have) offer slightly different profiles (to Alexander-Arnold), the evidence is we were good in September-November than anything from Trent.
“I played many times against him and suffered many times when he played against my teams. I know very well his strengths and what he can give.”
The door hasn’t been completely shut on an England return in the near future, as Tuchel was very complimentary of the attack-minded defender.
But ahead of the World Cup to follow, this doesn’t make for great reading for Alexander-Arnold’s chances to be a first-team starter in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
