As Xabi Alonso takes control of Bayer Leverkusen’s training session in the suite overlooking the club’s BayArena pitch, there is no hint of nerves. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder, 42, is remarkably relaxed despite being in the spotlight after leading his side to a 3-0 win over Bayern Munich on Sunday that left them five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and close to matching Bayern’s unbeaten record.
It is no surprise that Alonso is attracting attention given his outstanding job at the German club over the past 16 months, with Klopp praising him as one of the new generation standout coaches. “The way he has set his team up and his mental approach has been outstanding,” the soon-to-depart Liverpool manager said of Alonso’s impressive work in Germany.
Despite a difficult start to the 2022-23 seasons that led to the sacking of Leverkusen’s previous boss, Alonso has guided them to an unprecedented run of results. His teams have won six of their last seven games in the Bundesliga. Alonso’s XI has dominated the possession stats in Germany’s top flight this season with the highest pass completion percentage and best defensive record.
Alonso has praised the innate talent of his players to explain why they can keep up such a high pace, even as they endure setbacks like injuries and the absences of critical stars like midfielder Lucas Alcaraz, defender Jeremie Frimpong, and forward Victor Boniface. “When I came here, the first thing I noticed was how good the footballers were,” he said. “They are very talented, especially the internal playmakers and those who can be used in a specific way so that you can push players up high or have them playing slightly more withdrawn. They have an excellent understanding of how to move in these positions.”
“The next thing I noticed was how quick his team is so well tuned for the time it has taken,” Klopp continued. “It’s incredible that he has been able to do this. He is an incredible talent from the new generation of managers.”
Alonso’s impressive run at Leverkusen has made him a frontrunner to succeed Klopp at Liverpool at the end of the season, but he insists he is still focused on his current assignment. He has not yet ruled out the possibility of returning to his homeland in the future. “The idea of returning to Spain could be in the future,” he said. “But for the moment, I am happy at Leverkusen.”
