Rio Ferdinand has hit out at former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf for his claim that Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is a “Championship level” defender.
The 23-year-old was included in Gareth Southgate's 28-man squad for England's UEFA Nations League games against Italy and Germany, though Chelsea's Reece James has been the Three Lions boss' preferred option.
The decision to pick James ahead of Alexander-Arnold is up for debate, despite the Blues defender's good form. Many, including Leboeuf, believe that he's a far better defender than the Liverpool star.
READ MORE: Chelsea player ratings vs Man City – Berger makes strong comeback, Reiten and James impressive
In fact, Leboeuf went as far as saying that he's not a Premier League-level defender, though his attacking qualities will never come into question.
“Look at Trent Alexander-Arnold. I love the guy, his offensive qualities. But defensively, he’s Championship level,” Leboeuf told Le Journal du Dimanche. “Only Jurgen Klopp's system works for him. When it doesn’t work as well as it has this season, all you see is his defensive shortcomings.
“I want to take him with me to work on the basics. I would say to him: ‘Turn your head and look behind you, it will be better already’. It was Roberto Carlos who deformed generations of defenders.”
However, the comments didn't sit well with Ferdinand, who has since called out Leboeuf for his claims.
“Even Leboeuf had the cheek to say he is a Championship defender,” he said on his Rio Ferdinand presents FIVE channel. “Are you winding me up? It’s disrespectful, some people get too disrespectful. Leboeuf defensively wasn’t the best by the way, so he’s got a cheek.
“When you look at Leboeuf you go ‘Unbelievable on the ball, defensively he’s alright, gives you a chance’. I was in team-talks against him and our gaffer would go ‘He’s unbelievable on the ball, prepare for this’, you had to do a team-talk on Lebouef, he was that good, ridiculous. But you would go ‘You get around him, because he will give you a chance’.
“If he was good enough defensively you wouldn’t talk about his defensive frailties. He’s saying ‘He’s a weakness defensively, get yourself right round him’.”
With the talent both James and Alexander-Arnold possess, it's a debate that's going to go on for a few more years at least. Whether the Liverpudlian can change Southgate's mind before the World Cup remains to be seen, but it's a healthy problem for the England manager to have.
READ NEXT:
- AC Milan boss makes Chelsea dig as Graham Potter prepares for back-to-back Champions League ties
- Timo Werner makes blunt three-word Chelsea admission following failed £45m transfer
- Marina Granovskaia sacrifices leave Todd Boehly facing defining £105m Chelsea transfer decision
- What Chelsea and Todd Boehly can learn from Arsenal and West Ham with sporting director decision
- Declan Rice gives Todd Boehly green light to seal £130m Chelsea transfer decision and ruin Liverpool plan
