Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he understands Xabi Alonso’s decision to turn down interest from other clubs and remain at Bayer Leverkusen.
Alonso had been a leading target for Liverpool to replace Klopp at the end of the season, with the latter set to step down as manager after almost nine years in the Premier League.
Bayern Munich also approached Alonso over becoming their head coach for next season, but the Spaniard has confirmed he will not be leaving Leverkusen.
Alonso had led Leverkusen to the top of the Bundesliga table, without losing a game, and the German side are closing in on a first-ever league title this season. Klopp admits he can understand Alonso’s decision to continue his work at the BayArena.
“One part I can speak about is a young manager where he is doing well. Being at a club in a similar situation, I did pretty much the same and I never regretted it. That’s pretty much everything I can say about it,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Brighton this weekend.
“He is doing an incredible job there. Leverkusen has a good team and they will probably keep the team together. That’s a possibility and not all years it is like that. So I understand that he wants to do that. For the other stuff, I have nothing to say about it. That’s it.”
Klopp was asked whether there was too much pressure on young managers like Alonso to take a big role early into their coaching careers.
“I have no idea. I cannot think myself any more in that situation. Do you think he’s staying at Leverkusen because it’s too quick? I don’t think you can compare that. I don’t know how much Leverkusen you watch but if you watch them from time to time it’s really impressive. He didn’t just build on last year.
“They have created a mentality. We won a lot of late games and they won a lot of late games. It’s crazy. You cannot say for former players it’s like this or like that. For some it might be too early, for others not. I don’t know.”
