Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen were the visitors on Tuesday evening and the former Manchester United player made his impressions known about the changes at Anfield – and, understandably, he was impressed.
Alonso has been heavily linked with taking over at Anfield following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, but pledged his commitment to Leverkusen in March during a historic season.
Unsurprisingly, he ignored several questions from Merseyside reporters during his press conference on the eve of the Champions League game about whether he had ever seriously considered returning to the club as manager.
However, the Spaniard spoke about how it feels to return to the city he called home from 2004 to 2009, and particularly how the club has developed in recent years.
“I feel good [to be back in Liverpool] Years later. “It’s always special to come back here,” he said.
“You can see the progress of the club, you can see the new Anfield Road stand. It looks absolutely amazing.
“Obviously tomorrow we have an important match in the Champions League against Liverpool. They are in a good moment. It couldn’t be better than this. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
It wasn’t hard to see Alonso’s attachment to the club, but he was keen to turn attention back to Liverpool’s meeting with Leverkusen when questions were mixed after 90 minutes.
“Let’s talk about tomorrow’s game. “It’s more interesting than my future,” he claimed. “We have a big game with great players on both sides. That’s what’s in my head.
“For us, coming here is a big challenge. Liverpool are probably one of the best teams in Europe right now, if not the best.
“They are showing that playing in the Champions League, a very strong Premier League, a good squad, a good coach and playing at Anfield is a big challenge but we are all looking forward to it.”
Of course there was time in Istanbul
Alonso won a total of three trophies in 210 appearances for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, but even he could admit that his outstanding memories are not “very original”. Who can blame him?
Asked to recall his greatest moments, he said: “Almost 20 years later, it wouldn’t be original.” “They remember us for that night, for that miracle.
“It was the beginning of something great that we started in 2005. What we did against Milan was a fantastic memory.
“I talk a little, but not too much, because I want to talk more about our work now, but Istanbul is definitely an iconic moment for me.”
We will never tire of hearing that. See you at Anfield, Xavi!
