I can’t say goodBay
Klopp gets Xabi decision
of Bayer Leverkusen. For sure all the decisions you need to analyse well.
“I try to take the right ones, I try to take them in a natural way.
“At the moment this is the right place for me to develop as a coach, I am a young coach. Right now this is the right place.”
Alonso remained tight-lipped on whether he had received any contact from Liverpool.
But he emphasised it was the stability he has at Leverkusen which swayed his decision – citing the support and respect of the fans and all departments of the club as key.
“Putting all those things together, this important decision I believe is the right one,” he added.
“I am still young and time will tell, but now I am happy.”
Alonso, 42, has quickly become one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe due to his work at Leverkusen, who are top of the Bundesliga table and in the semi-finals of the German Cup.
They could yet meet Liverpool in the Europa League this season if both sides make it past their quarter-final ties, with Leverkusen facing West Ham next month.
And Liverpool boss Klopp, who turned down offers from big clubs including Manchester United while he was at Borussia Dortmund, admits that he understands Alonso’s decision.
“I did pretty much the same, never regretted it,” Klopp said.
“Xabi is doing an incredible job there. I understand that he wants to do that.
“Do you think he is staying at Leverkusen because it is too quick? Leverkusen are really impressive.
“He put an idea on the pitch. They created a mentality which is really special.”
Liverpool would have considered appointing former Reds midfielder Alonso if he was available.
But they will now weigh up other options as they look for a replacement for Klopp.
Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim and Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi are two candidates under consideration by Anfield chiefs.
JURGEN KLOPP has backed Xabi Alonso’s decision to rule himself out of the Liverpool job to stay at Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool had made Alonso their No.1 target to replace Klopp at the end of the season and Bayern Munich were hoping to tempt him away from his role.
But the former Reds midfielder (left), who has Leverkusen in the hunt for a treble, has drawn a line under any speculation by insisting he will stay beyond this season.
He said: “It’s been a season where we have had a lot of speculation regarding my future.
“Until now we have had so many games, been pretty busy and focused and I wanted to reflect during the international break and take a decision.
“Last week I had a very good meeting when I informed them (Leverkusen’s board) of my decision to continue being coach