Berlin (AP) – Xabi Alonso awaits, like everyone else, to see who will train Real Madrid next season.
The Spanish coach said on Friday that he did not know “nothing new” about his future amid the links with his former club, but he understands why uncertainty continues and no decisions have been made.
“I respect what happens in other clubs,” said Bayer Leverkusen coach. “It is not a situation that you need to talk about. I know they are in a stage of the season in which they are still fighting for the championship, and we also have our goals. The season is not over, so we must wait.”
It is widely expected that Alonso returns to Madrid – where he played from 2009 to 2014 – and assumes the position if the current coach Carlo Ancelotti leaves at the end of the season. The 65 -year -old Italian contract with Madrid lasts one more season, but is being courted by the Brazilian football confederation after what has been a disappointing season so far for the Spanish giant.
Madrid was eliminated by Arsenal in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, lost the Copa del Rey final to its staunch rival Barcelona last weekend, and is four points from the Catalan club in the absence of five days in the League. They will meet again in Barcelona on May 11.
Ancelotti has stated that he will remain with Madrid and the president of the club, Florentino Pérez, wants him to stay. That will probably depend on the remaining five league games of your team.
Alonso, who assumed the position in Leverkusen when he was in the Bundesliga descent zone in October 2022, took the team to an unprecedented double of the German League and Cup last season. No other team has completed a season of the undefeated Bundesliga.
A setback in terms of performance was perhaps inevitable. Leverkusen was surprised by the Third Division team Arminia Bielefeld in the semifinals of the German Cup and seems to see Bayern Munich lift the league trophy on Saturday.
The CEO of Leverkusen, Fernando Carro, and the sports director, Simon Rolfes, are interested in Alonso fulfilling their contract until next season. But they are also identifying possible replacements. Kicker magazine reported Friday that Erik Ten Hag, former Manchester United and Ajax, has emerged as the favorite. The name of Xavi Hernández, former Barcelona coach, has also sounded.
“We have not talked about that,” Alonso said about his possible successor. “We talk, Fernando is there. We talk about some issues in the morning and there is always a good connection and communication. We are all informed of everything and there is never a problem for us. We are keeping calm. We will wait until the right time to decide something.”
The 43 -year -old coach added that he is not worrying about any of the speculation.
“I am keeping calm. I know that something new is expected at each press conference, but that is not my job. It is preparing the team for each game. That is all I can say,” he said.
The Leverkusen will face Friburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
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SPORTS IN SPANISH AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool.
