- Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he will remain with Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
- The news is a hard blow for interested parties Liverpool and Bayern Munich
- Why a defeat against Arsenal will be curtains for Manchester City’s title defense – Listen to the everything is beginning podcast
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson worries that Xabi Alonso may live to regret his decision to reject Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Alonso revealed on Friday that he had ruled himself out of both positions he has pending at Bayer Leverkusen.
The Spaniard is in the midst of an impressive campaign with Leverkusen, who are unbeaten all season and 10 points ahead of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga.
And Merson believes there is little more Alonso can achieve at Leverkusen if he leads them to their first title as expected.
“You have to make money while the sun shines in management, and we’re talking about two of the most important jobs in world football,” Merson said on Sky Sports (via The Echo). Maybe they will never come again.
Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he will not accept the positions at Liverpool or Bayern Munich
Paul Merson worries that the Bayer Leverkusen coach will live and regret his decision
“I don’t see Bayer Leverkusen winning the league again next year, I think the giant Bayern will continue where it has been for the last 10 years. I am surprised. I can understand that he is probably happy with what he is doing, he is receiving great praise and rightly so, but these appear from time to time.
‘I just hope he doesn’t regret this. I know what management is like, in the end everyone gets fired. “They are two of the most important jobs in the world of football.”
Outgoing Reds boss Jurgen Klopp also commented on Alonso’s decision.
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“Xabi is doing a great job there and it is possible that they can keep the team together,” said the former Borussia Dortmund coach. ‘Is not always that way. I understand that he wants to do that.
‘Leverkusen is really impressive, it’s not like they have done in other years. He has created a mentality that is on the field and is really special. “You can’t say that in the case of former players it’s too late or too early, I don’t know.”
Alonso’s decision to stay at Leverkusen leaves Sporting Lisbon coach Amorim as the leading candidate to take charge of Liverpool.
Amorim, 39, is expected to be interviewed by the Premier League giants after performing well in Liverpool’s data tests.
