Mourinho has addressed speculation that Alexander-Arnold could leave Real Madrid in January, admitting that difficult selection decisions can be painful but insisting that the team's needs must come first.

"First of all, it hurts me. I don't like to make players feel bad. I want them to feel good," Mourinho said.

"Obviously, when you build a squad with two players per position as your foundation and then have a third player take the field, that's something I don't like.

"But there are things that are more important than these feelings. Things that are more important for the team at a given moment. And I decided that right now, the move was to change up the midfield and put Fede [Valverde] in there.

"But I was thinking about the team, not the players. Trent and Dumfries took it well when I explained that it was a decision for the team and not against the players."

Mourinho has previously highlighted Alexander-Arnold's versatility and tactical intelligence, insisting that squad rotation and positional flexibility will be crucial to Real's success.

Speaking at his first news conference in August, Mourinho stressed that competition for places would be important, naming Trent alongside Netherlands international Dumfries.

"It is not possible to think that one will play 60 games and the other none," he said, underlining the need to keep his squad involved and motivated.

That flexibility was evident against Inter Milan in September, when Mourinho deployed Alexander-Arnold in central midfield alongside Valverde because several midfield options were unavailable through suspension.

Mourinho was pleased with the defender's performance, saying he had "interpreted what he needed to really well, tactically" and that he and Valverde had "worked very well at this level".

Despite having to make difficult selection decisions, Mourinho has stressed the importance of keeping every member of his squad motivated and ready to contribute.

"Right now, we are working to make sure all the players are ready at all times, so everyone feels they could be playing and that they are important. That's very important for motivation."