By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Xabi Alonso opens up on Liverpool links

Xabi Alonso has spoken out about his decision to stay on as Bayer Leverkusen coach rather than join Liverpool.
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      When Jürgen Klopp announced in January that he would be stepping down as Liverpool manager this summer, Xabi Alonso was quickly touted as a possible replacement.

      It wasn't just because he was enjoying a fantastic season with Leverkusen, but also because Xabi has strong ties with Liverpool, having spent five years on Merseyside as a player.

      Xabi was also linked with the coaching job at Bayern, where he also played in the past, but ultimately decided to stay with Leverkusen.

      In an interview with CNN, the Spaniard was asked if he ever considered the Liverpool job after Klopp's departure was made public.

      “All these decisions, they need to be thorough. You need to really think about them. And it was more about what I had, not what I’m missing,” Xabi Alonso explained.

      “For sure, my bond with Liverpool is there and it’s still there. So there’s no, any kind of issue with that.”

      Asked whether he held talks with Liverpool, Alonso replied:

      “That’s kind of behind the curtains."

      The 42-year-old is under contract with Leverkusen until 2026.

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