Jurgen Klopp Rules Out Real Madrid After Alonso Sack

Jurgen Klopp wasted no time distancing himself from the Real Madrid vacancy in the aftermath of Xabi Alonso’s dismissal, insisting it has “absolutely nothing to do with me.”

If there was one club in European football that you could almost guarantee would not align with Klopp’s football ideology, it is Real Madrid.

Nevertheless, it never stops his name being linked to the Spanish side when a new manager is needed, with Sky Germany among those reporting Klopp would “give it serious consideration.”

In a well-timed slot on ServusTV soon after the news broke, Klopp was able to emphatically dismiss the talk he knows has already started linking him to the role.

“(My phone) actually has (been ringing) – though not from Madrid,” he started, as per ESPN. “But yes, there were definitely a few people who felt they had to contact me directly about it!

“I think the rumours have been circulating for some time now. And I know exactly what your question is getting at, but it has nothing to do with me.

“I was surprised, that’s true, genuinely surprised. Then a few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis.”

He later added: “I really feel sorry for him, because I consider him a great coach. It has nothing to do with me and didn’t trigger anything in me either.”

There was then the acknowledgement of the difficulty Alonso faced in turning Real Madrid in his image, which is continual issue at the Bernabeu.

He explained: “I think when you arrive after a legend and an incredibly good coach, who had a very specific way of coaching his team — Carlo Ancelotti — if you arrive there and try to implement some new rules, this time it seems it has proven too difficult.”

Alonso only lost five of his 28 games in charge, including one against Liverpool, but is now back on the market.

Liverpool manager: Xabi Alonso a candidate?

The inevitable next question is whether Alonso could be in the frame for Liverpool, with Arne Slot under the microscope in his second season in charge.

The Spaniard was a ‘leading’ candidate before he announced would remain at Bayer Leverkusen, which saw him join Real the following summer, but now will be back in the minds of Liverpool supporters.

Klopp said he doesn’t believe Alonso will leave Spain “and be ready to start somewhere else the next day,” but the shuffling of managers will open doors in the summer.

Something Klopp has ruled himself out of being involved in, adding: “The coaching market is being reshuffled.

“And it’s not a bad thing to experience all of this from an observer’s perspective and not think about what it might mean for yourself – because you’re in the right place where you are.”

It seems not to matter how many times Klopp says he is not interested in stepping back into the hot seat any time soon, but links to Real Madrid are jarring with what we know about the man and manager.

Have Your Say

Do you agree that Klopp does not align with Madrid’s football philosophy?

Would you ever want to see Klopp back in a dugout, or is his new role the right move?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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