Xabi Alonso has committed his future to Bayer Leverkusen, ruling out a move to Liverpool at the end of the season
Paul Merson has warned Xabi Alonso that he may regret his decision to snub Liverpool. The former Reds midfielder was heavily linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp in the dugout at Anfield before ruling out his departure from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season.
Alonso has been enjoying an excellent campaign in Germany, leading Die Werkself to the top of the Bundesliga and, incredibly, they remain unbeaten after 26 games. Establishing a 10-point lead in the title race, the 42-year-old looks set to end Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign.
Until this weekend, Alonso was widely regarded as the favourite to replace Klopp – ahead of the likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim. Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, the Spaniard committed his future to the German outfit after taking time to reflect over the international break.
“There has been a lot of speculation around my future, we have been busy and focused and I wanted the international break to reflect a bit better,” said Alonso. “I had a very good meeting with the decision-makers, and I decided to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.
“I feel this is the right place to develop as a coach. I have to feel it, and right now I feel this is the right place… my job is not over here,” he added. “For sure all the decisions needed to be analysed well and I tried to take the right ones.
“I tried to take them that I feel they come in a natural way and at this moment I felt that this is the best place for me to be, for me to develop as a coach. I am a young coach but I have to feel it and right now I feel that this is the right place and I have to thank the management, the club that has been really supportive.”
With the Leverkusen boss ruling himself out of the one-horse race to replace Klopp, Liverpool have been dealt a setback in their hunt for a new head coach. Speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Special show, Merson was left shocked by Alonso’s decision to snub the Reds.
“You’ve got to make hay while the sun shines in management, and you’re talking about two of the biggest jobs in world football,” said the former Arsenal midfielder. “They might never come again.
“I don’t see Bayer Leverkusen winning the league again next year, I think Bayern the juggernaut will continue where they’ve been the last 10 years. I’m shocked. I can understand he’s probably happy what he’s doing, he’s getting great accolades and rightly so, but these come along once in a blue moon.
“I just hope he doesn’t regret this. I know what management’s like, everyone gets the sack in the end. They’re two of the biggest jobs in the world of football.”
