Xabi Alonso: Bayer Leverkusen manager

PepG said:
Everyone thinks Madrid, but what about Man City job?! I believe he will be the perfect replacement for Pep Guardiola..
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Madrid makes too much sense and a way more enticing proposition than City. Unless they offer him the "Mancini Special" and ungodly amount of money.
 
PepG said:
Everyone thinks Madrid, but what about Man City job?! I believe he will be the perfect replacement for Pep Guardiola..
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Given a choice between the two, I can’t imagine anyone with the exception of someone very passionate about Barcelona or Atletico would ever choose city over real. Real are an infinitely bigger club in almost every metric, and the one metric where they aren’t (finances) they aren’t exactly paupers and their allure often overrides that anyway.
 
Cloud7 said:
Given a choice between the two, I can’t imagine anyone with the exception of someone very passionate about Barcelona or Atletico would ever choose city over real. Real are an infinitely bigger club in almost every metric, and the one metric where they aren’t (finances) they aren’t exactly paupers and their allure often overrides that anyway.
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City would be the easier choice since Guardiola had a huge influence on Alonso's style of play. Plus the club and dressing room is less difficult.

That being said, I think Alonso was always going to be Madrid's coach and came to an agreement with Perez last season. My guess is, Perez' plan was to replace Ancelotti with Alonso in 2024 considering how well he started into the season with us, Ancelotti knew his time was coming to an end and agreed to take over Brazil (Brazil's FA president at the time had already announced Ancelotti) but Alonso didn't feel ready yet and asked for at least another season at Leverkusen. Since Madrid was very successful at that time, too, they decided to extend Ancelotti who preferred this over Brazil and withdrew his decision. So Alonso could experience how it is to keep a team motivated after a riduculously successful and exhausting season while Madrid could observe how Ancelotti was performing with a top class replacement already lined up. If Madrid was playing better than they currently do, maybe they would have waited until 2026 but in this situation, they want Alonso now and he won't let that opportunity pass for a second time even if I could imagine he'd like a third full season here before making the next step, considering our recent struggles.
 
Zehner said:
City would be the easier choice since Guardiola had a huge influence on Alonso's style of play. Plus the club and dressing room is less difficult.

That being said, I think Alonso was always going to be Madrid's coach and came to an agreement with Perez last season. My guess is, Perez' plan was to replace Ancelotti with Alonso in 2024 considering how well he started into the season with us, Ancelotti knew his time was coming to an end and agreed to take over Brazil (Brazil's FA president at the time had already announced Ancelotti) but Alonso didn't feel ready yet and asked for at least another season at Leverkusen. Since Madrid was very successful at that time, too, they decided to extend Ancelotti who preferred this over Brazil and withdrew his decision. So Alonso could experience how it is to keep a team motivated after a riduculously successful and exhausting season while Madrid could observe how Ancelotti was performing with a top class replacement already lined up. If Madrid was playing better than they currently do, maybe they would have waited until 2026 but in this situation, they want Alonso now and he won't let that opportunity pass for a second time even if I could imagine he'd like a third full season here before making the next step, considering our recent struggles.
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Whilst I agree with most of your post, it seems as if Xabi Alonso has been ear marked for the Madrid job, and taking Wirtz with him.

The thing I would be worried about as a Madrid fan is, can he play the same style at Madrid? this high line, which means you need a high press. Can Mbappe and Vini do the job? If not, the whole set up fails.

Will Madrid switch their formation to a 3-5-2? considering the amount of attacking players at their disposal and lack of defenders?

Finally, will Alsono be as popular after this season where he has already been battered by Liverpool, will some results leave a mark on his season?

Will be quite interesting to see how it all unfolds at Madrid.
 
romufc said:
Whilst I agree with most of your post, it seems as if Xabi Alonso has been ear marked for the Madrid job, and taking Wirtz with him.

The thing I would be worried about as a Madrid fan is, can he play the same style at Madrid? this high line, which means you need a high press. Can Mbappe and Vini do the job? If not, the whole set up fails.

Will Madrid switch their formation to a 3-5-2? considering the amount of attacking players at their disposal and lack of defenders?

Finally, will Alsono be as popular after this season where he has already been battered by Liverpool, will some results leave a mark on his season?

Will be quite interesting to see how it all unfolds at Madrid.
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The fans will support him no doubt with whatever he tries to implement in the team and even if he doesn't have as good of a season currently with Leverkusen he's going to remain the most popular choice to replace Ancelotti.

The concerns about being able to implement his style in Real Madrid are reasonable but I hope he is given full control and he isn't forced to play certain players to the detriment of the team.
 
romufc said:
Whilst I agree with most of your post, it seems as if Xabi Alonso has been ear marked for the Madrid job, and taking Wirtz with him.

The thing I would be worried about as a Madrid fan is, can he play the same style at Madrid? this high line, which means you need a high press. Can Mbappe and Vini do the job? If not, the whole set up fails.

Will Madrid switch their formation to a 3-5-2? considering the amount of attacking players at their disposal and lack of defenders?

Finally, will Alsono be as popular after this season where he has already been battered by Liverpool, will some results leave a mark on his season?

Will be quite interesting to see how it all unfolds at Madrid.
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Madrid wanting Wirtz is just gross.

Bring Arda to OT please.
 
romufc said:
Whilst I agree with most of your post, it seems as if Xabi Alonso has been ear marked for the Madrid job, and taking Wirtz with him.

The thing I would be worried about as a Madrid fan is, can he play the same style at Madrid? this high line, which means you need a high press. Can Mbappe and Vini do the job? If not, the whole set up fails.

Will Madrid switch their formation to a 3-5-2? considering the amount of attacking players at their disposal and lack of defenders?

Finally, will Alsono be as popular after this season where he has already been battered by Liverpool, will some results leave a mark on his season?

Will be quite interesting to see how it all unfolds at Madrid.
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Yeah, Mbappe and Vinicius will be challenging. He might be fine with one of them not tracking back both both is a no go I'm sure. I can even see Madrid offloading one of them in the future if they don't improve their work against the ball.

Really hope he brings Wirtz with him, ideally in 2026. But I'm fine with 2025, too, if it means we don't have to suffer seeing him play for Bayern week in week out.
 
Zehner said:
Yeah, Mbappe and Vinicius will be challenging. He might be fine with one of them not tracking back both both is a no go I'm sure. I can even see Madrid offloading one of them in the future if they don't improve their work against the ball.

Really hope he brings Wirtz with him, ideally in 2026. But I'm fine with 2025, too, if it means we don't have to suffer seeing him play for Bayern week in week out.
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Vini, Rodrigo, Mbappe, Bellingham, Endrick.

Wirtz probably has a better chance of getting into Man City 11 and playing regularly than at Madrid
 
Cloud7 said:
Given a choice between the two, I can’t imagine anyone with the exception of someone very passionate about Barcelona or Atletico would ever choose city over real. Real are an infinitely bigger club in almost every metric, and the one metric where they aren’t (finances) they aren’t exactly paupers and their allure often overrides that anyway.
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True they are. But every coach in the world wants to manage in the biggest league in the world. My city fan mate thinks they’re getting him but he also thought Amorim was pep’s replacement before we got him.
 
I hope alonso does go city to be fair. So far he’s shown that he’s a 1 season wonder. Will city go for a manager that prefers a back 3 though? Surely they’ll opt to go for someone that can take over peps 4-3-3, someone like Enrique
 
Cloud7 said:
Given a choice between the two, I can’t imagine anyone with the exception of someone very passionate about Barcelona or Atletico would ever choose city over real. Real are an infinitely bigger club in almost every metric, and the one metric where they aren’t (finances) they aren’t exactly paupers and their allure often overrides that anyway.
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There’s a reason Pep has spent almost a decade at Citeh and barely any time at Bayern or his beloved Barca.
I can’t even imagine to deal Pep has been on, something beyond belief that’d make Messi’a Miami contract look like nothing.
 
DJ_21 said:
I hope alonso does go city to be fair. So far he’s shown that he’s a 1 season wonder. Will city go for a manager that prefers a back 3 though? Surely they’ll opt to go for someone that can take over peps 4-3-3, someone like Enrique
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In the last 3 seasons City are playing in most matches 3-4-2-1 system, so back three would not be an issue there .
 
PepG said:
In the last 3 seasons City are playing in most matches 3-4-2-1 system, so back three would not be an issue there .
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But they start with a 4-3-3. Which when attacking changes into the formation your saying. It’s a lot different having a tactical plan when you actually start with 3 at the back.
 
I think throughout his coaching career, he will prioritize his former teams.
Barça and City are on the same side.
 
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