Trent: "We're very excited to start the matches"
"We all try to learn and absorb the information from the coach and put it into practice as quickly as possible," he said on RM Play.
Trent Alexander-Arnold spoke to RM Play ahead of the Whites' FIFA Club World Cup debut against Al Hilal at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (Wednesday, 9:00pm CEST; 3:00pm local time): "Training has been really good, the ball is moving really quickly. Obviously, it's very different from what I'm used to in terms of the players and the styles of play, but that's fine. I'm enjoying the change and being part of this."
Integration with the team
"I feel really good and I'm happy to be here, to be honest. I can't say enough good things about the guys and how they've made me feel welcome. They've gone out of their way to talk to me. They've made me feel comfortable, making sure they answer every question I have, especially with translations. They've helped me a lot with everything, so I can't thank them enough."
The switch from English to Spanish
"Now we're excited about the games we're going to start. Unless it's just Spanish players, if Jude or I are involved, the guys tend to speak English, so we can understand them. Some things are easier than I thought they would be, and some things are more difficult. The meetings and tactical talks are in Spanish, so I need to get used to that a little bit. In terms of everyday conversation, it's easy. I have a decent level of Spanish, and I can hold a conversation with the guys. Likewise, they understand English very well, so it's easy to communicate."
Expectations for this new process
"It's a new coach and a new coaching staff, so in that sense we're all starting from scratch. We're all trying to learn and absorb all the information and put it into practice as quickly as possible. We're very excited to get started. The matches are coming up soon, so maybe we'll get off to a good start."
Preparation for the Club World Cup
"That's been important for me, being able to come here, spend time in the hotel, training on the pitch... The time you spend with the team helps you integrate, so for Dean (Huijsen) and me, it's ideal to be around everyone, getting to know each other, understanding each other's personalities, and integrating as well as possible. We're very happy to be here and excited to get started with the matches, too. Hala Madrid!"