8 months ago
162 Liverpool have been heavily linked with Xabi Alonso in recent months as a potential replacement for Jurgen Klopp.
With the Liverpool coach set to leave Anfield at the end of the season, the Reds are looking to bring in someone worthy of replacing him in the dugout.
Alonso appears to be the prime candidate for Liverpool due to his amazing record at Bayer Leverkusen so far and the fact he used to play for the Reds and ‘gets’ the club.
Now, Leverkusen defender Alex Grimaldo has provided an insight into the reported Liverpool target’s coaching methods, and what makes him such a special coach.
Liverpool target Xabi Alonso is a ‘very special coach’
Grimaldo, speaking to Fabrizio Romano, says Alonso is a great man-manager whose experience as a player – including the coaches he has had – have helped him become the coach he is today.
Better still for Liverpool – or any other suitors – the defender believes Alonso will be an era-defining manager.
“For me he’s a very special coach,” said Grimaldo. “It’s clear that I came for him, he treats me very well, he’s helped me adapt very quickly.
“He knows how to explain each concept, he knows how to treat players, how to demand from them, but giving them confidence without taking it away at any time.
“I remember in the game against Stuttgart in the first half, the team was very bad, he came at half-time and said something like ‘I don’t care if we win or lose, we’re going to play the way we know how to play.
“He demanded some things, but he said I don’t care about the result. What I want is for us to play the way we know how. We went out and it was totally different.
“What I want to tell you is he knows how to treat players, it’s clear that he’s been a player recently and he’s been an incredible player he’s also had very good coaches in his career I think all that makes him the coach he is today.
“It’s clear that he’s going to mark an era in the dugouts.”
Liverpool face tough race to land Xabi Alonso ahead of fierce competition
Alonso is an absolutely amazing shout for Liverpool.
Not only is he an Anfield cult hero and gets the club, but he’s also making a name for himself as one of the best young managers in the game.
However, with Liverpool and Bayern Munich both needing new managers ahead of next season, this will likely be one of the most hotly contested transfer sagas of the summer.
Alonso certainly has good reason to join either club. He has played for both and is good enough to manage both.
As illustrious European clubs with domestic league titles and Champions Leagues aplenty in their trophy cabinets – including recently – both will certainly appeal to him.
The post 'He's going to mark an era': Player says manager Liverpool reportedly want to replace Klopp is a real game-changer appeared first on TBR Football.
