Courtois: Alexander-Arnold a 'nightmare' for GKs

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is precise impressed by Trent Alexander-Arnold's "unbelievable" crossing quality and described his caller teammate arsenic a "nightmare" for goalkeepers.

The England defender provided his archetypal assistance for Madrid erstwhile helium delivered a cleanable transverse for Gonzalo García to people successful the 1-0 win against Juventus astatine the Club World Cup.

"He could person provided respective assists already successful the tournament," Courtois said of the erstwhile Liverpool full-back. "In training, his striking is unbelievable, his free-kicks and corners are connected different level. I don't deliberation I've seen anyone with his prime successful striking and crossing."

Alexander-Arnold joined Madrid from Liverpool up of the tourney successful the United States. He has started successful each of Madrid's games astatine the Club World Cup truthful acold playing arsenic a right-back and successful midfield. Courtois admits helium is trying to get utilized to Alexander-Arnold's benignant of play arsenic helium is apt to drift into a much precocious position.

"As a goalkeeper, he's a nightmare astatine times," helium said. "He keeps you connected your toes and forces you to enactment hard to marque stops. He makes america improve."

Madrid volition instrumentality connected Borussia Dortmund successful Sunday's Club World Cup quarterfinal successful New Jersey. They person avoided facing Brazilian clubs truthful acold successful the competition, with Palmeiras and Fluminense inactive live successful the tournament.

Asked what helium thought astir the level of South American teams, Courtois said: "We who cognize shot ne'er doubted their level. If you judge 4 tweeters who deliberation the level is s---, you're wrong.

"We, who recognize football, cognize that Brazilian teams are good...and not that European teams are the best. I judge that's however it is, the level is precocious and that's shown successful each match. We're having a batch of bully and absorbing matches to watch, and we person to support moving truthful that, God willing, we tin scope the final."

Madrid person relied connected the goalscoring of García successful the U.S. The 21-year aged has deputised for Kylian Mbappé portion the French guardant recovered from gastroenteritis.

"I didn't expect him to people 3 goals successful 4 games but I knew that helium would enactment well," Madrid manager Xabi Alonso said of García. "I person assurance successful him and helium is earning that trust."

García is determined to marque the astir of his clip starring the enactment astatine Madrid. "What I bash cognize is that this tourney is the accidental of a beingness and I program to springiness 200% to marque the astir of it," he told DAZN.