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Former Liverpool assistant manager Peter Krawietz has revealed his first impressions of Trent Alexander-Arnold, describing the now Real Madrid right-back as “physically underdeveloped” when he first came to the attention of senior staff at the club.
That was nearly a decade ago, when Krawietz followed Jurgen Klopp to Anfield and worked as the German’s assistant during the entirety of his tenure at the club. Alexander-Arnold was Liverpool’s great academy success during that period, with the Scouser making his first-team debut within a year of Klopp’s appointment.
He went on to play over 300 times under Klopp, becoming vice-captain and establishing himself as one of the world’s best right-backs. Yet, that wasn’t the first impression Krawietz got of the scrawny teenager.
“I still remember Trent Alexander-Arnold running across the field for the first time as a 15-year-old beanpole – physically underdeveloped, with no muscles at all,” the 53-year-old told Goal.
“But even then, the youth coaches said he was a huge talent. In the end, he became Liverpool's homegrown right-back, shaping the team's play and symbolising the team's development.”
Speaking as part of a wide-ranging interview, Krawietz was also asked which player impressed him most during his time at Liverpool.
“Roberto Firmino comes to mind,” he replied. “His development was extremely interesting to observe. He initially came to the Christmas party wearing sunglasses, wore the best suits, and partied the hardest.
“Later, he found faith and became a Christian. The way he embraced that and drew strength and conviction from it was quite extraordinary.
“He always thought about others and became a role model for them. He perfectly combined his Brazilian style of playing with the necessary seriousness and commitment.”
Krawietz left Liverpool alongside Klopp last year and, like his former boss, has joined the Red Bull soccer conglomerate. He initially served as Zsolt Low’s assistant coach at RB Leipzig but has now taken up a role away from the training field.
He was recently appointed as Red Bull’s head of soccer philosophy and is once again working under Klopp. Speaking in the interview, Krawietz defended the former Liverpool coach’s decision to join Red Bull.
“I've taken note of the criticism. But I don't understand it. I think there's a bit of a misunderstanding on the part of the fans,” he said.
“Where would Jurgen have been allowed to work, what would the public have approved of? There would have been numerous critical voices even if he - purely hypothetically - had become coach at Bayern Munich or Manchester United.
“Of course, that's not how free choice of profession works. You have to pay that much respect to an individual. You can't hold a public vote on what the fans approve of.”
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