Finally, Liverpool legend Alonso praises the eve of the 'big match' against Leverkusen

NOS Football•yesterday, 10:25 PM

Slot thinks Leverkusen is 'just as good as last season, but a bit unluckier'

He was the ideal successor to Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool coach and is now back at Anfield for a while. Xabi Alonso will play with his team Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League against Liverpool on Tuesday. One of the clubs with which the Spaniard celebrated great successes.

The 42-year-old successful coach, who won the national title, the German Cup and the Super Cup with Leverkusen last season and lost the final of the Europa League, was coveted by Liverpool. But Alonso declined and Arne Slot became the trainer of The Reds.

And not without success: Slot and his team are leaders in the Premier League and have won all matches in the Champions League so far. Liverpool is therefore favorite against Bayer Leverkusen.

Yet Slot, who praised former world champion and Champions League winner Alonso extensively during his press conference, sees Leverkusen as a formidable opponent. “I think they are as good this season as last season, but a little bit unluckier when it comes to results,” said the Dutchman.

Alonso in turn complimented Slot: “Liverpool is one of the best teams in Europe, with a good coach. So it will be a challenge to play against them, especially at Anfield.”

The Spanish coach preferred not to talk about his own reception, although he indicated that he was happy to be back. “It's not about me, I'll see tomorrow,” said the man who scored one of Liverpool's goals in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan (3-3).

Still a moment that Alonso is often reminded of by English fans. That final was memorable not only because Liverpool won the most important European tournament on penalties for the first time in 21 years, but especially because it was 3-0 to AC Milan at half time. Alonso made it 3-3 in that match, which makes him a club legend.

Leverkusen, which defeated Feyenoord 0-4 and also won against AC Milan, has seven points after three games and therefore still has every chance of reaching the next phase.

“It's a big European match,” said Slot, who tried to explain why Alonso is such a good trainer. “It's hard to say what makes Xabi a special manager if you don't work with him every day, but he is, that's clear.”

Perhaps it is his career as a player, Slot thinks. “He has worked with incredible managers in the past and played at the highest level, so he knows and understands what players feel at certain times.”