BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said Thursday it was “not the right moment for me to talk about” his future, with the in-demand coach linked to Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Alonso’s Leverkusen sit eight points clear atop the Bundesliga table and are unbeaten in all competitions this season, his first full year at the club.
Asked if he would be in the dugout at Leverkusen next season, Alonso replied “right now, yes.”
The 42-year-old manager has been linked to upcoming vacancies at two of his former clubs, after Bayern’s announcement on Wednesday that Thomas Tuchel would leave season’s end, along with Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down in summer from Liverpool.
The Leverkusen boss opened Thursday’s press conference with a statement directed at journalists, saying “maybe you have a question or two about my future. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing new to say.”
“Right now I’m the coach here, that’s for sure. For the future I have nothing new to say, we’ll see.”
The coach, who took over Leverkusen in October 2022 with the club hovering near the relegation spots, said rumors of his departure in summer were “only hypothetical.”
Eight points ahead of second-placed Bayern with 12 games remaining, Alonso has Leverkusen on track for a first German top-flight title.
The coach, who won titles in Spain, Germany and England as a player, told reporters he and the squad were not feeling under pressure.
“I don’t feel it. We are very focused, that (pressure) is no problem.”
On Friday, Leverkusen host second-last Mainz and can go 11 points clear with a win. Bayern host RB Leipzig on Saturday.
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A perfect cross from Mohamed Hany was nodded by captain Trezeguet into the corner of the net past Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
Ahly stamped their authority on the match in the second half and deservedly increased their lead on 75 minutes.
Slick, one-touch passing set up Trezeguet, who moved across several defenders inside the area before curling the ball into the far corner of the net.
The goals lifted Trezeguet to five in the Champions League this season, level with Brazilian Tiago Reis from Angolan club Petro Luanda at the top of the charts.
Slovenian substitute Nejc Gradisar squandered a good chance to put Ahly even further ahead when he fired wide with only Diarra to beat.
In Group C, Abdelrazig Omer bagged a brace as Al Hilal of Sudan drew 2-2 with former champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in Pretoria in another top-of-the-table clash.
Sundowns, whose lone title came in 2016, and Hilal have five points each, with the South Africans ahead on goal difference.
A victory for either Saint-Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo or Mouloudia Alger of Algeria in Lubumbashi on Sunday will move the winners within one point of Sundowns and Hilal.
Omer put Hilal ahead on 15 minutes from close range after a run down the wing and pass from Burundian Jean Claude Girumugisha.
Sundowns were level seven minutes later as Brazilian Arthur Sales got behind the Hilal defense and his weak goal attempt trickled into the net.
A thunderbolt from South African international Teboho Mokoena from outside the box on 64 minutes edged Sundowns in front.
But once again a lead lasted only seven minutes. Poor defending by Sundowns enabled Omer to score again and take his goal tally in Africa this season to four.
Hilal substitute Emmanuel Flomo from Liberia was shown a straight red card for striking Khuliso Mudau in the face, leaving the visitors to play with 10 men for the last four minutes of regular time.
A further four matchday three fixtures are scheduled for Saturday, including defending champions Pyramids of Egypt away to Renaissance Berkane of Morocco.
’Not the right moment’ to discuss future, says Alonso
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’Not the right moment’ to discuss future, says Alonso
- Asked if he would be in the dugout at Leverkusen next season, Alonso replied “right now, yes”
- “Right now I’m the coach here, that’s for sure. For the future I have nothing new to say, we’ll see”
Trezeguet brace gives Ahly CAF Champions League victory
- Success for the Red Devils in Alexandria opened a three-point lead in Group B for the record 12-time African champions
- Ahly have seven points and Young Africans four after three rounds
JOHANNESBURG: Former Aston Villa striker Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan scored the goals that gave Al Ahly of Egypt a 2-0 victory over Young Africans of Tanzania on Friday in the CAF Champions League.
Success for the Red Devils in the Mediterranean city Alexandria opened a three-point lead in Group B for the record 12-time African champions.
Ahly have seven points and Young Africans four after three rounds. JS Kabylie of Algeria and FAR Rabat of Morocco, who meet on Saturday, have one point each.
Young Africans created more chances than Ahly in a cagey first half only to fall behind in the third minute of added time.
A perfect cross from Mohamed Hany was nodded by captain Trezeguet into the corner of the net past Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
Ahly stamped their authority on the match in the second half and deservedly increased their lead on 75 minutes.
Slick, one-touch passing set up Trezeguet, who moved across several defenders inside the area before curling the ball into the far corner of the net.
The goals lifted Trezeguet to five in the Champions League this season, level with Brazilian Tiago Reis from Angolan club Petro Luanda at the top of the charts.
Slovenian substitute Nejc Gradisar squandered a good chance to put Ahly even further ahead when he fired wide with only Diarra to beat.
In Group C, Abdelrazig Omer bagged a brace as Al Hilal of Sudan drew 2-2 with former champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in Pretoria in another top-of-the-table clash.
Sundowns, whose lone title came in 2016, and Hilal have five points each, with the South Africans ahead on goal difference.
A victory for either Saint-Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo or Mouloudia Alger of Algeria in Lubumbashi on Sunday will move the winners within one point of Sundowns and Hilal.
Omer put Hilal ahead on 15 minutes from close range after a run down the wing and pass from Burundian Jean Claude Girumugisha.
Sundowns were level seven minutes later as Brazilian Arthur Sales got behind the Hilal defense and his weak goal attempt trickled into the net.
A thunderbolt from South African international Teboho Mokoena from outside the box on 64 minutes edged Sundowns in front.
But once again a lead lasted only seven minutes. Poor defending by Sundowns enabled Omer to score again and take his goal tally in Africa this season to four.
Hilal substitute Emmanuel Flomo from Liberia was shown a straight red card for striking Khuliso Mudau in the face, leaving the visitors to play with 10 men for the last four minutes of regular time.
A further four matchday three fixtures are scheduled for Saturday, including defending champions Pyramids of Egypt away to Renaissance Berkane of Morocco.
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