Gary Lineker Condemns Thomas Tuchel's 'Bizarre' Public Criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold
Former England striker Gary Lineker has launched a scathing attack on national team manager Thomas Tuchel, branding his public comments about defender Trent Alexander-Arnold as "distinctly odd" and "wrong." The criticism stems from Tuchel's recent remarks questioning Alexander-Arnold's defensive capabilities, which Lineker argues should have been kept private.
Lineker's Strong Rebuke on Podcast
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker expressed disbelief at Tuchel's approach. "I don't see why Tuchel would have said that. It's a very bizarre statement for a manager to make," he stated. Lineker highlighted that while he recalled similar thoughts at the time, a manager publicly undermining a player is counterproductive. "He's the guy in charge so it doesn't particularly bode well for Trent," Lineker added, emphasising the negative impact on player morale.
Lineker defended Alexander-Arnold, noting his exceptional attacking skills. "He's saying he's not as strong defensively as he is attacking. Oh really? Who would have thought that? The reason for that is he's one of the best attacking players in world football," he argued. Lineker pointed out that Alexander-Arnold's positioning often pushes him forward, which can expose defensive gaps, but this is common among modern full-backs.
Alexander-Arnold's Struggles with England
Trent Alexander-Arnold, now 27 and playing for Real Madrid, has faced ongoing challenges securing a regular spot in the England squad. Despite earning 34 caps, he has never firmly established himself as the first-choice right-back. Under Tuchel, his opportunities have dwindled further, with only one appearance since early 2025—a brief 26-minute substitute role against Andorra.
Lineker criticised the public scrutiny Alexander-Arnold endures, suggesting it creates an unfair narrative. "If a player goes past Trent, it's 'oh see, there's his weakness.' So it became this thing that people looked for, more than probably in reality that was there," he explained. Lineker stressed that no player excels in every aspect, and coaches should support rather than publicly critique.
Lineker's Call for Private Discussions
Emphasising professional conduct, Lineker asserted that managers should handle criticisms internally. "Also you can't have your coaches and managers talking negatively about you in public. That's wrong, Tuchel shouldn't have done that," he said. He advocated for private conversations to address issues, rather than public justifications for selection decisions. "If you think that, that's fine and you can have private conversations with the player about addressing the issues. But you don't do that publicly just to justify your own decisions, it's just wrong," Lineker concluded.
Alexander-Arnold's future with England remains uncertain as he battles injuries at Real Madrid and competes for a place in the squad for the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Lineker's comments add to the growing debate over player management and public communication in football.
