Alonso RESPONDS to criticism for Liverpool snub

Stuart Telford

• 21 Apr 2024 11:00 BST
• 3 min read

Xabi Alonso was slammed by English media in particular after turning down Liverpool to extend his stay with Bayer Leverkusen, and now he has hit back.

Alonso emerged as one of the brightest young managers in world football this season, leading Bayer Leverkusen to a first ever Bundesliga titles, and they remain on course for a continental treble after going undefeated in all competitions.

A world class midfielder with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in his pomp, Alonso was linked with a move to all three of his former employers at the end of the current campaign.

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Carlo Ancelotti subsequently extended with Real, spurning Brazil, but the other two jobs remain available with Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool and Thomas Tuchel Bayern.

Alonso was the red-hot favourite to succeed Klopp at Anfield, and when he went public with his intention to stay at Leverkusen instead, former Arsenal star Paul Merson was one such pundit who reacted in the negative.

Alonso: 'Merson decisions I don't value'

"You've got to make hay while the sun shines in management, and you're talking about two of the biggest jobs in world football," Merson told Sky Sports. "They might never come again!

"I don't see Bayer Leverkusen winning the league again next year, I think Bayern the juggernaut will continue where they've been the last 10 years. I'm shocked."

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Bayern haven't been denied back-to-back Bundesliga titles since Klopp steered Borussia Dortmund to victory in 2011 and 2012, but Alonso is happy that he made the right call.

"Everyone's responsible for their own decisions," he told AS. " I hope mine to stay is the right one, I'm convinced that it'll be like that. I'm enjoying the moment and, of course, I want to keep improving.

"Paul Merson will have made decisions that I don't value, mine is this."