After rumors about Real & Spurs
For Xabi Alonso, the final of the Europa League would be the first highlight in his young coaching career. But he was already attracting the attention of other clubs with his performances at Bayer Leverkusen. A change in the summer is not an issue for the 41-year-old, who led the “Werkself” from 17th place in the Bundesliga to currently seventh place.
“I am very happy with the team and with the club. I don’t worry about my future. I have full focus on what I want. I discussed it with everyone who needs to know,” said Alonso on Wednesday during a press conference before the second leg against AS Roma (9 p.m. / RTL). When asked by “Sport Bild” whether he was fulfilling his contract and staying until 2024, the Spaniard replied: “Yes, that’s correct!”
Recently there had been reports of interest from his former club Real Madrid. According to “Sport Bild”, Alonso is a possible successor to Carlo Ancelotti for the “Royals”, so he is considered President Florentino Pérez’s preferred candidate. As well as Real, the former World and European champions have also been linked with Tottenham and West Ham.
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Alonso is looking forward to the Rome duel – 1st European Cup final possible for 21 years
“We have the mentality and the desire to play in a way that we can do it. I feel the energy and the atmosphere in the team,” said Alonso about the task on Thursday in Rome. Despite the 1-0 defeat in the first leg, the ex-professional is completely confident: “We want more.” After 21 years, the club has another chance to move into a European final. “It doesn’t have to be a miracle, we just have to bring our best performance onto the pitch,” said national player Florian Wirtz.
The optimism in the team is unbroken despite the defeat in the first leg and the major injury worries. “We’re ready for a great night,” said Alonso, who will be without defensive stabilizer Robert Andrich (broken metatarsal), Odilon Kossounou (muscle injury) and Karim Bellarabi (torn hamstring). Center forward Patrik Schick has been missing for weeks anyway. “But we also have other good players who will do their job well. Of course we also play for the injured lads,” stressed Wirtz.
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