The trainer of Bayer Leverkusen speaks at the press conference before the last home game of the season. But does he also reveal details about his future? Follow the PK here in the live ticker.
Does everything go very quickly with Xabi Alonso? The star coach of Bayer Leverkusen and a move to Real Madrid-according to media reports, the 43-year-old will actually take over the “royal” for the new season and follow Carlo Ancelotti. Alonso is said to have already informed his Leverkusen players about his farewell (read more about this here).
Does the Spaniard now also publicly announce his decision? Follow Bayer Leverkusen’s press conference before the last home game against Borussia Dortmund (Sunday from 3:30 p.m. in the live ticker at T-Online) from 2 p.m. in the ticker.
2:25 p.m.: The press conference ends in Leverkusen. Bayer press spokeswoman Valeska Homburg says goodbye to the journalists present.
2:25 p.m.: Did Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes boss Leverkusens not to take Bayer players to his new club? Alonso has to laugh: “I didn’t have to promise that.”
2:24 p.m.: Does he still have to motivate his team before the BVB game? “I will do it the same way as always, nothing will change. I wish that Jonah (defender Jonathan Tah, who also leaves the club) would sit next to me.
2:22 p.m.: Alonso is asked about the future of Bayer Star Florian Wirtz, who is associated with FC Bayern. Alonso’s tight answer: “You have to ask him yourself.”
2:21 p.m.: In what condition does he leave Leverkusen? “Without a doubt, the club is in a great constitution. We can be happy with this development. Many intelligent and capable people work in the club who will continue to control him in the right direction. I will always have a special connection to this club.”
2:18 p.m.: His most emotional moment in Leverkusen? “When we won the cup final. The last week of last season was very intensive. We experienced the bitter side of football in Dublin (at the Europa League final). We didn’t want to feel that again in Berlin. And we did it again. It was a fantastic year that you will remember in 20 years.”
2:14 p.m.: Why did he choose the farewell now? “Last year I decided to stay because I felt comfortable here. That didn’t change now. But it was the right time now.”
2:13 p.m.: Alonso blocks a new question about his future: “No. This is not the right time to talk about it.”
2:12 p.m.: Alonso looks back: “The first year was the hardest season. It was a new club for me, I had to learn quickly. The second season was a dream with big nights, big games. We wrote history. But this year was also difficult. But I learned so much. I improved myself as a trainer and learned for the future.”
2.10 p.m.: How did his players record the message? It was “a good conversation. We have a special connection, the players gave me so much, I gave them so much. And that will stay.”
2:08 p.m.: Does he go to Real Madrid? Alonso is covered: “It was only important to me to publicly create clarity. I don’t want to talk about the future yet.”
2:07 p.m.: Is there a farewell before the game against Dortmund on Sunday? “The right moment will come. You have to wait. We agreed this week and it is important to me to return what I got from this club until the end.”
2:06 p.m.: Alonso emphasizes: “Communication with Leverkusen was always open and clear. The club gave me so much, our connection was special. They believed in me. We always had a good chemistry. Now that we have clarity, we can enjoy the last two games in peace.”