Thierry Henry has defended Trent Alexander-Arnold's role in Real Madrid's winning goal in the Champions League final on Saturday evening.
The La Liga champions broke Liverpool hearts when Vinicius Jr turned home Valverde's cross in the 59th minute to clinch a record 14th European Cup for the Spaniards and leave the Reds wondering what might have been. Full-back Alexander-Arnold received criticism in some quarters for leaving the Los Blancos winger unmarked at the far post, but that's not how Henry -a former Champions League winner himself - saw it.
Speaking on CBS Sports on Paramount+ he said: “It’s an awkward position that he takes to defend that cross. But the overlap makes it difficult for him from Carvajal and Valverde switches that ball across the box, it’s very difficult for Trent Alexander-Arnold to defend that.
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“I don’t think he even looks at the beginning where is Vinicius. He knows Benzema isn’t in front of him. He sees Benzema stopping, so he is stopping with his line. But there is a man behind you – For me, it’s a very tough one for Trent Alexander-Arnold to defend on that one. Remember, Liverpool lost the ball. He shuffled across a bit more thinking about Benzema a bit too much and he never thought about his winger.”
The goal demonstrated Real's ruthlessness in front of goal, a trait that has seen Carlo Ancelotti's side navigate their way past Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City before ultimately lifting the trophy at Liverpool's expense in Paris.
Alexander-Arnold - 23 - has already won every single major honour on offer to him in club football, including the Champions League in 2019.
