Xabi Alonso shares real reason he wasn't interested in interviewing for Liverpool job
Former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso was linked with the manager's job at Anfield after Jurgen Klopp decided to depart, but he ultimately decided to remain at Bayer Leverkusen
by Matthew Cooper · The MirrorXabi Alonso has explained why he was not interested in becoming Liverpool's new manager after Jurgen Klopp announced he would be leaving.
Klopp announced he would be standing down as Reds boss at the end of last season back in January and Alonso emerged as the early favourite to replace him. However, the Spaniard was in the midst of guiding Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title and quickly ruled himself out of the running.
Arne Slot ultimately ended up landing the Liverpool job and, with Leverkusen now set to take on Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League, Alonso has reflected on his decision not to return to his former club.
When asked if he ever seriously considered replacing Klopp at Liverpool, the former Reds midfielder replied: "At that time I was focused, I had a big thing with the players and we were really focused on that."
He also shut down questions over whether he would consider returning to the club as manager in the future, adding: "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.
"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." And Slot has hailed his opposite number as a "special" manager ahead of the clash.
"That he is special, that's clear," Slot said. "If you go to a club that was bottom of the league and with the same players you bring them all the way up without spending that much money in that summer, only bringing in one or two very good players, and they had the season [that they had].
"They only lost the final of the Europa League, it tells you that he is special. What it is that makes him special is difficult for me to say because I haven't faced him yet and I haven't worked with him.
"What might be the situation is that he's worked with very good managers in the past, he was a player with incredible insight in the game, he knew when to be where and he played at the highest levels so he knows and understands how these players feel in certain moments.
"That probably contributes to what makes him a good manager. How he is exactly so special? The best way to find that out is to talk to the players he has worked with and I haven’t done that yet."
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