Dimitar Berbatov reckons Xabi Alonso can be an ideal match at Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s impending departure means the Reds are on the hunt for a brand new supervisor for the primary time in practically a decade, and former Liverpool midfielder Alonso is without doubt one of the frontrunners for the job. The Spaniard’s Bayer Leverkusen aspect are two factors clear on the high of the Bundesliga and are undefeated in all competitions, with 25 wins from 29 video games to this point.
Berbatov, who spent six years at Leverkusen earlier than sealing a transfer to Tottenham in 2006, thinks Alonso will go well with Premier League administration right down to the bottom and that Liverpool’s squad will take to his footballing philosophies like geese to water.
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“Alonso is showing so far that he can handle everything,” the Bulgarian informed Betfair. “Going to Liverpool, it’ll be even more challenging for him, but he’ll have the confidence he can do it based on what he’s doing right now.
”He’ll carry that model of play. It’ll match Liverpool as a result of there’s not a lot distinction in the way in which they play to Leverkusen. They press excessive when they should press, they management the ball, play from the again, taking part in courageous passes.”
Where will Liverpool end within the league subsequent season if Alonso replaces Klopp? Let us know within the feedback part beneath.
(Image: Bongarts/Getty Images)
Berbatov, who lined up towards Alonso a number of occasions throughout stints at Spurs and Manchester United, says he would not be shocked if the 2010 World Cup winner is already interested by a return to Anfield, regardless of being on the cusp of main Leverkusen to Bundesliga glory for the very first time (they’ve completed runners-up 5 occasions).
“I bet Alonso has started thinking about the Liverpool job. Maybe someone has contacted him already? Let’s wait and see,” Berbatov stated. “Let’s say he makes Leverkusen champions, he completes that unbelievable journey and then going to Liverpool will be the next step in his development.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Berbatov additionally credit Alonso for the foremost mentality shift in Leverkusen’s dressing room. “The biggest club in the Bundesliga is Bayern Munich. Of course, you have Dortmund as well. Leverkusen was always up there, but not really there,” he stated. “With Alonso coming, I saw the way the players played on the pitch. Not so much how they played football, but how they carried themselves. You can see the change in their body language, they’re believing that they’re playing for a really big club.
“They’re taking part in with confidence and no concern. Even once they’re dealing with larger groups like Bayern Munich, they really feel they’ll beat them. They’re not afraid to make errors as a result of they know they’re adequate to appropriate the errors. The concern issue just isn’t there. They play bravely and that’s what I wish to see.
”Many managers will say they’re perfect for different teams, but it doesn’t always work like that. Alonso is a major candidate for the Liverpool job.”
Berbatov, 43, scored 91 objectives in 201 video games for Leverkusen. He by no means gained something with the German membership, although they did attain the ultimate of the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal in 2002. Four years later Berbatov joined Spurs, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than he was attracting envious glances from Europe’s very greatest golf equipment.
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Man United snapped him up for £31million in 2008 and he went on to win the Premier League twice in 4 years on the membership. Stints at Fulham, Monaco, PAOK and Kerala Blasters adopted earlier than Berbatov referred to as it a day in 2019.