Alexander-Arnold: 'Diogo Jota was there with me'

Trent Alexander-Arnold believes Diogo Jota "was there with me" during Real Madrid's dramatic Club World Cup victory over Borussia Dortmund.

Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday.

Kylian Mbappe, who scored the winner in Los Blancos' 3-2 win, celebrated by showing the number 20, Jota's number for Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold played the cross that set up Fran Garcia's strike in the first half, but he admitted it was hard to focus on the match.

"I still had a job to do - to try and perform for the team and help them win the game, no matter how difficult it was," he told DAZN.

"As hard as it was to do it, I had to push myself to focus on what my job and role was. I tried to do it as best as I could, but it was difficult, and I am not going to lie about that.

"[Jota] was one of my close friends. And I am sure that's what he would have wanted me to do. He was there with me, I am sure.

"I shared the dressing room with him for five years. Amazing memories on and off the pitch. It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was."

Julian Brandt, meanwhile, rued Dortmund's slow start to the game and acknowledged that it played a big part in their inability to put Madrid under pressure.

Maximilian Beier and Serhou Guirassy both scored in stoppage time, with the latter converting the penalty he won after being tugged back by Dean Huijsen, who was shown a straight red card.

Marcel Sabitzer then almost forced extra time, but his last-second shot was tipped past the post by Thibaut Courtois.

Dortmund finished the game with 1.4 expected goals (xG) from their 12 shots, but 1.2 of their xG came in the second half, when they had nine attempts, and four on target.

Their stoppage-time show did almost lead to extra time, but Brandt admitted that it was too little, too late.

"It got really exciting at the end. We were so close," he said. "But in the first half, we played slow, sleepy football — we were always a step behind.

"In the end, we showed character, but, of course, we had hoped for a different outcome. Maybe that final bit of determination to really get into the box and create clear chances was missing."

Waldemar Anton, meanwhile, chose to see the positives in their performance, praising the Black and Yellow's character as they attempted to fight for their place in the tournament.

"After we got the goal back, we tried to push for the next one," Anton said. "We never gave up — that's a good character trait.

"The save at the end [from Thibaut Courtois] was incredible. I thought the ball was already in. We conceded the first two goals far too easily; we showed too much respect for the opponent there.

"But overall, it was a special experience to be here at the Club World Cup. We take a lot of positives from it. With a little more luck, we could have gone through today."