BUNDESLIGA
Bayern Munich applaud Xabi Alonso decision: “He’s a gent”
Bayern sports director Max Eberl spoke about the Basque coach’s decision. “It was clear to him that he would not leave Leverkusen, I know him.”
Xabi Alonso’s immediate future was settled this weekend when the Basque coach assured, in his press conference ahead of the Hoffenheim game, that he will continue on the Bayer Leverkusen bench next season. It brings to an end months of speculation - which began with Jürgen Klopp’s announcement that he will be moving on from Liverpool at the end of the season and Xabi’s name cropped up with the possibility he could return to his old club. Another club which has been heavily linked was Bayern Munich, who had the Tolosa-born coach at the top of their list.
Bayern’s struggles
While it hasn’t been a poor season for the German giants, it hasn’t been a spectacular one either. The team has reached the Champions League quarter final and have practically assured their place in next season’s tournament. Bayern are second in the Bundesliga but it looks like they will be deprived of a record 12 consecutive title precisely by Xabi’s Leverkusen, who are 13 points clear at the top.
However, in the Munich offices they had already assumed that their former player would not be rushing back. Who can blame him when things are going so well for him. Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said he wasn’t too surprised about Xabi’s decision to stay put and honor his contract. “It was clear to him that he would not leave Leverkusen - I know him.”
He added, “Xabi’s decision did not affect me at all because we had been looking elsewhere for a long time. Xabi is an honorable man. A gentleman. I knew him because I had already negotiated with him with ‘Gladbach when he was still in San Sebastián. That’s why it was clear to me that he would not leave Leverkusen”.
“I know him, I had already negotiated with him with Gladbach when he was still in San Sebastián”
Saturday’s 0-2 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker left Bayern even further off the pace after Leverkusen roared back to steal a late win against Hoffenheim. Results that leave Bayern further away from Leverkusen than ever. A setback that has felt like a bucket of cold water. And that puts coach Thomas Tüchel on the spot.
“Nagelsmann? “We are exploring our options…”
Nagelsmann return?
Another idea on the table is to bring back former coach Julian Nagelsmann, who enjoyed a successful couple of years in Munich, only to leave last to accept a dream job with the Germany national team.
“Nagelsmann? I know that this interests the entire public and that everyone wants to participate in the ideas we have. I have said many times that we are exploring our options. I have never commented on a name,” Eberl declared.
Eberl gave his own thoughts on the team’s performance against Dortmund and encouraged the players to think ahead to the Champions League quarter final against Arsenal. “There was very little energy, very little will - everything we wanted to see today was not enough. We know that the boys have quality, but they also have to show it on the field. Playing against Dortmund has to be special, and we haven’t shown it today. Today we played a mediocre game,” he admitted.
“We should represent Bayern Munich in the way we know how. An uncomfortable task awaits us next week. Bayern players have to be aware of the shirt they wear. The Heidenheim game [next Saturday] also has to be a preparation for Arsenal,” he ended.