Xabi Alonso was heavily linked with the Liverpool job earlier this year (Picture: Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso brings his Bayer Leverkusen team to Liverpool on Tuesday night, having been strongly linked with the Anfield job himself earlier this year.
After Jurgen Klopp announced his intention to leave the Reds midway through last season, Alonso quickly emerged as the number one candidate.
The Spaniard starred in midfield for Liverpool during his playing days and has thoroughly impressed as manager of Leverkusen since hanging up his boots.
However, he snubbed the attention from Merseyside, and that from another former club in Bayern Munich, to stay on at Leverkusen after their incredible Bundesliga triumph last season.
Asked about why he turned down Liverpool ahead of an emotional return this week, Alonso said: ‘At that time I was focused, I had a big thing with the players and we were really focused on that.’
Understandably the 42-year-old was keen to concentrate on the task at hand, with Liverpool in fine form under Arne Slot.
‘Let’s talk about the game tomorrow, it’s more interesting than my future. Let’s talk about the great players on both sides, that is what is in my head,’ he said.
Alonso showed great loyalty by remaining at Bayer Leverkusen (Picture: Getty Images)
‘For us it is a big challenge to come here. Liverpool at the moment is one of the best if not the best in Europe, they are showing that in a very strong Premier League and the Champions League.
‘It’s a good squad, good coach. At Anfield, it’s a big challenge. We’re looking forward to it, let’s see what happens.’
He added on Slot, who has started brilliantly at Anfield: ‘Liverpool are in a great moment. I followed Arne Slot when he was at Feyenoord. I know his approach. That combined with the intensity here at Liverpool is a nice mixture.
‘That’s why they are top of the Premier League and the Champions League. In all areas they are strong.
‘The manager has done a fantastic job in the past three months. For us it’s a big challenge to come here. At the moment Liverpool are one of the best if not the best team in Europe. We have our plan so let’s see what happens.’
Arne Slot could scarcely have dreamt of a better start to life at Liverpool (Picture: Getty Images)
Slot has won all three of his Champions League games in charge of the Reds and is sitting top of the Premier League table, so he deserves the praise he has received from Alonso.
The Dutchman has returned the compliments as well, hailing the ‘special’ Leverkusen boss.
‘It’s difficult to say what makes him a special manager if you don’t work with him on a daily basis but he is, that is clear,’ Slot told a pre-match press conference.
‘Bottom of the league when he took over, didn’t spend much, mainly the same players, and they only lost in the final of the Europa League. What makes him special is hard because …read more
Source:: Metro
