Xabi Alonso insists he is in the “right place” at Bayer Leverkusen and is not thinking about the impending vacancy at Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s announcement this morning that he will walk away from Anfield in the summer has inevitably prompted talk regarding his successor.
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Klopp to leave Liverpool
Alonso is the bookmakers’ favourite having led Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga as the only unbeaten team remaining in Europe’s top five leagues.
And with the Spaniard a former Liverpool player – he played a pivotal role in their famous, come-from-behind, Champions League win over AC Milan in 2005 – it’s not hard to see why he is a leading candidate.
Alonso, however, attempted to dampen talk of a move to Merseyside and insisted his full focus was on Leverkusen’s title challenge which continues tomorrow at home to Borussia Monchengladbach.
“It was a surprise [the Klopp news] but I have huge respect for Jurgen, huge admiration for what he has achieved and the way he has achieved it,” he said.
“At the moment I am happy here and I am enjoying my work.
“Each game is a challenge and we are in an intense but beautiful journey here in Leverkusen and I am trying to give my best so my players are ready for the next game.
“That’s my goal right now. The next one I don’t know.”
???????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????? @borussia_en
???? #Alonso “We are looking forward to playing in our home stadium again. With our fans, we are expecting a great atmosphere as always. We are focused on our game against Gladbach and bringing a good performance to the pitch.”… pic.twitter.com/9zIfn1j0p5
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 26, 2024
Pushed on whether he felt the Liverpool job might be too much for him at this stage of his career, the 42-year-old added: “To be honest, I am not in the moment to think about the next step.
“I am thinking about where I am right now. I am in a great place and I am enjoying it. It’s the right place.
“What really matters is what happens on Saturday. What will happen in the future I don’t know and I don’t really care to be honest.”
