Xabi Alonso world exclusive

Xabi Alonso world exclusive
25th May 2011

654 days since his emotional leaving of Liverpool - and six years on from the glory of Istanbul, Xabi Alonso has a story to tell.



After arriving into a private room deep inside the impressive Real Madrid training complex at Valdebebas, Alonso answered the question of his own press officer when we were asked if 20 minutes would be long enough to conduct this interview.

"No, they can have as long as they need," said the Spaniard, before settling down to open his heart about the triumphs and the torment of his Anfield career in his most in-depth interview - soon to be screened in full on LFC TV - since swapping Merseyside for Madrid.

Alonso's Liverpool story is one of Champions League and FA Cup success, ridiculous long-range goals, defence splitting passes and general midfield mastery.

But the way it all came to an end left something of a bad taste in the mouth.

Fans all over the world were left devastated when the deal to take Alonso to Madrid - a deal which had been on the cards for 12 months after then manager Rafael Benitez confirmed his interest in pursuing the signing of Gareth Barry in the transfer market - finally went through in the summer of 2009.

Suddenly the club's midfield playmaker had gone; the man who made it all happen in the centre of the field and the man who had driven Liverpool to within touching distance of the league title with a record number of points.

Surely he would want to stay and help the Reds take that next, big, elusive step? We had gone so close - why did he have to end his Liverpool love affair now?

The truth can be found by rewinding 12 months when the manager dropped an end of season bombshell on his Spanish star.



"At the end of that season, speaking to Rafa, he told me the situation and that he wanted to sign other players and I could be one of the replacements," he explained. "If an offer would have come, probably I would have been sold. That's when I told myself that the situation had changed - from being a very important player to being one of those who can be sold to get funds to sign other players. I accepted it because I am a professional but you have to realise what your situation is. At the end nothing happened because there was no agreement and we started my last season in Liverpool, but knowing what had happened.

"I had to take it from their point of view. We knew what had happened and once we knew I was going to stay, if the manager was going to pick me then I was going to play as well as possible. There were no personal problems, it was a professional relationship.

"I didn't feel I had a point to prove. I knew what I was capable of giving to the team and what I had given for the four years - and then the last one. In the last one the team was really good, we were winning so many games, beating the top teams home and away and that made a big difference. Because of the silly draws we got at home at the beginning of the season, that's probably why we didn't win the Premier League. We felt we had a very good team, we were very competitive and it was a disappointment not to win the league.

"I didn't know what would happen but at the end of the season, knowing what had happened, I felt if another option was to come I needed to take another step in my career. It was very difficult to take that decision, but it was probably for the best for me because I was not comfortable with that situation and if I had stayed another season it would have been uncomfortable for me.

"I was really happy with the team and my teammates and felt that we could do great things. I was happy on that side but within a club you have to see the big picture and another season would have been too much for me.

"As soon as the season finished I talked to the manager. I knew that maybe Madrid were coming and I said if the terms were good then I wanted to leave."

Alonso may now wear the white of Real Madrid but throughout our chat it's clear the red of Liverpool still has an extra special place in his heart.

Before the camera started rolling on our interview, he was keen to hear about the latest news from Anfield and Melwood, about what the atmosphere is like at the training ground and about the general feeling around the club at the end of another season.

His last visit to Anfield was for a game in December during the closing weeks of Roy Hodgson's reign and he remarked of getting a strong sense that all was not well. He was clearly pleased when reassured the club today is vastly different to how it was just a few short months ago.

While talking through the ups and downs of his five years on Merseyside it's clear one date and one night in particular still brings out a bigger smile than any other.



May 25, 2005. Istanbul. The Champions League final. It may have been six years ago today but for Xabi, and most probably for everyone else glued to their TV sets or inside the Ataturk Stadium on that famous night, the memories come flooding back as though it all happened yesterday.

"To lift that trophy in the first season was a dream come true," he recalls. "We were lucky to live so many big nights on the way to Istanbul, like Olympiacos, Chelsea, Juventus - those were fantastic nights and it was the perfect start for many of us.

"It was a crazy night because we were so enthusiastic before the game but the first half was really tough and really difficult to take, but the team spirit was high and we kept believing, even when it was mission impossible. But we made it and in six minutes scored three goals against a top team like Milan with so much experience. It was a miracle. After scoring the third goal you had the feeling our name was written on the trophy.

"Look at the pictures and my face tells everything before taking that penalty. The responsibility, the tense look. It was more than nerves, it was about the responsibility. It was one of the biggest moments of my career. I missed it but got the reward and it was probably the quickest five metres I have ever run.

"It was unbelievable afterwards. After so many years, bringing Liverpool back to where they deserved to be - you could see the faces and the happiness of the people around Liverpool and wherever we went. Sharing those moments with them was fantastic and totally unforgettable.

"It is a final in the memory of all football supporters. They have it in their mind, it was the greatest comeback ever, so wherever I go they have that memory."

There were no personal problems, it was a professional relationship.

It sounds to be like there was nothing but personal problems. Its clear he had some egoistical beef with Rafa Benitez...when you look at it back in 2008 before the 2nd leg of the Inter Milan game, Alonso wants to be at his wifes side in the hospital for the birth of his first baby (which is completely understandable) Rafa is furious because he believes you should but the club before anything else (Benitez actually stood by that statement when he missed his own dads funeral, when the reds were in Japan attempting to win the Club world championship in 06) Alonso missed the Inter Milan game, so at the end of the season Rafa says he could be sold...when no deal goes through Xabi, with his deeply brused ego, becomes determined to leave Anfield that following summer on his own terms dispite Rafas plea to keep him at the club because of such an outstanding last season...

I dont know...if he did love the club THAT much then surely you would simply forget all the problems he had with Rafa and focus on the team and winning games...that would be professional!

We all love Alonso because he had such a likeability factor about him..he was the best passer in the world and was able to do the unthinkable at times...but he decided to leave anfield because of a personal problem with the manager...which could have easily been sorted out.

Well it must have been hard for Alonso to play under a manager who thinks Gareth Barry is better than you! He was always gonna go back to Spain at some stage, it was only a matter of time really.

The season before his last season at the club was when Rafa made that claim and I think most people would of agreed with him, Alonso didnt have the best of seasons in 07/08 whereas Barry had one of his career bests.

Looking back 3 years on, no one can make that comparasion now...as it would look foolish but at the time Barry was in his element and Rafa knew he had to sell to buy...when a left footed English CM comes along your always going to be interested.

I watched it on LFCtv, it was so emotional. I pray R.Madrid win La Liga next year so he has an excuse to come back!

Btw Claire Rourke

Would you seriously take him back at the end of next season if he was willing to? He will be 30 by then...not the same player he was at 27/28.

I couldn't care less if he was 40, he's still a great passer of the ball. You never lose that e.g Scholes. He's never really had pace so he can't lose that either. He's been immense at Real Madrid this season aswell. I don't see everyone's problem with the age of players.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_6968397,00.html

Read that.

LFC4LIFE wrote:I couldn't care less if he was 40, he's still a great passer of the ball. You never lose that e.g Scholes. He's never really had pace so he can't lose that either. He's been immense at Real Madrid this season aswell. I don't see everyone's problem with the age of players.

He will be more prone to injuries, its not like he was ever an injury free player was he? he was a successful EPL player so he must have had an element of pace to his game...that will decrease. Scholes was an amazing player but youve got to admit in his last 2 seasons with United he was rather ineffective, making costly mistakes. We had Xabi for 5 years, hes gone, get over him.

lfcJT07 wrote:

LFC4LIFE wrote:I couldn't care less if he was 40, he's still a great passer of the ball. You never lose that e.g Scholes. He's never really had pace so he can't lose that either. He's been immense at Real Madrid this season aswell. I don't see everyone's problem with the age of players.

He will be more prone to injuries, its not like he was ever an injury free player was he? he was a successful EPL player so he must have had an element of pace to his game...that will decrease. Scholes was an amazing player but youve got to admit in his last 2 seasons with United he was rather ineffective, making costly mistakes. We had Xabi for 5 years, hes gone, get over him.

Why? VDS is 40 and i can't remember him being injured this year once. Alonso played 60 games last season and 52 the year before....Xabi was the slowest player at LFC, he admitted that himself. In his position pace isn't key, it's about getting into space and he did that brilliantly at LFC. Scholes was only used as a bit part player but his ability on the ball is still top class and will always be. Costly mistakes? Which ones? Alonso was also voted by Marca as La Liga DM of the season so he must be doing something right to get in ahead of Khedira, Busquets, Mascherano no? If he wants to come back i would never say no.

Im not saying Alonso is underforming now, at the moment its clear hes in his prime. What i am saying is that if we did resign next summer on a 3/4 year deal...its obvious his game will deteriorate when hes 35/36...as the EPL will only get better and better. Scholes? getting sent off 10 times in your career arnt costly mistakes? cost United the FA Cup final arugably by getting sent off for a stupid tackle against City because of mistimed tackles...which is probably what Alonso will do a lot more of.

No point in resigning him, why cant people just move on!!

Look at Giggs, at 36-38, but still a key player. Football is heavily judge upon ones ages, but the contribution, skill, talent and also expeirence.

x Nadzy x wrote:Look at Giggs, at 36-38, but still a key player. Football is heavily judge upon ones ages, but the contribution, skill, talent and also expeirence.

Okay then, we resign Alonso and become even more dependent on him than ever before...Lucas, Shelvey, Spearing, Henderson (possibly) will all be made scapgoats as they cant perform up to Alonsos passing standards.

Like you ALWAYS say LFC4LIFE about players who are of Alonsos age - He doesnt fit the NESV profile.

lfcJT07 wrote:

x Nadzy x wrote:Look at Giggs, at 36-38, but still a key player. Football is heavily judge upon ones ages, but the contribution, skill, talent and also expeirence.

Okay then, we resign Alonso and become even more dependent on him than ever before...Lucas, Shelvey, Spearing, Henderson (possibly) will all be made scapgoats as they cant perform up to Alonsos passing standards.

Who say's we become dependant on him? That was Rafa's style of play....this is Kenny's!

x Nadzy x wrote:

lfcJT07 wrote:

x Nadzy x wrote:Look at Giggs, at 36-38, but still a key player. Football is heavily judge upon ones ages, but the contribution, skill, talent and also expeirence.

Okay then, we resign Alonso and become even more dependent on him than ever before...Lucas, Shelvey, Spearing, Henderson (possibly) will all be made scapgoats as they cant perform up to Alonsos passing standards.

Who say's we become dependant on him? That was Rafa's style of play....this is Kenny's!

Trust me, if are midfield problems persist...if Carroll is isolated upfront on his own again, we would never want Alonso out of the team, so if he was injured or suspended the fans, before a tricky away game, would probably just "give up"

lfcJT07 wrote:

x Nadzy x wrote:

lfcJT07 wrote:

x Nadzy x wrote:Look at Giggs, at 36-38, but still a key player. Football is heavily judge upon ones ages, but the contribution, skill, talent and also expeirence.

Okay then, we resign Alonso and become even more dependent on him than ever before...Lucas, Shelvey, Spearing, Henderson (possibly) will all be made scapgoats as they cant perform up to Alonsos passing standards.

Who say's we become dependant on him? That was Rafa's style of play....this is Kenny's!

Trust me, if are midfield problems persist...if Carroll is isolated upfront on his own again, we would never want Alonso out of the team, so if he was injured or suspended the fans, before a tricky away game, would probably just "give up"

But think....who did we really have in 2009/2010 season? Torres just by himself....however we got two strikers.

Also think of this- Poulsen or Xabi? As Xabi can play DMF, seen him do it in the past.

Mascherano-Alonso was the best midfield partnership in the premier league, one of the best. Alonso-Lucas? never really given a chance...but I dont really see how he would fit into the team without disrupting the blance of the squad.

Kuyt-----Gerrard----Lucas-----Young

--------Carroll------Suarez----------

Would this work?

----------Alonso-----Lucas-----------

Gerrard-------Suarez-------Young----

---------------Carroll-----------------

Forget Young, prefer Meireles.

----------Alonso-----Lucas-----------

Gerrard-------Suarez-------Young----

---------------Carroll-----------------

You don't want to isolate a player....this is what we did with Torres and where did that get us?

-------------Lucas-----------

Gerrard-----Alonso-------Young----

---------Suarez---Carroll-----------------

-----------Lucas-----------

Gerrard-----Alonso-------Young----

---------Suarez---Carroll-----------

Id settle for that, i suppose.

lfcJT07 wrote:

-----------Poulsen-----------

Gerrard-----Alonso-------Young----

---------Suarez---Carroll-----------

Id settle for that, i suppose.

Don't lie, you prefer this.

x Nadzy x wrote:

lfcJT07 wrote:

-----------Poulsen-----------

Gerrard-----Alonso-------Young----

---------Suarez---Carroll-----------

Id settle for that, i suppose.

Don't lie, you prefer this.

If Liverpool were an Italian team i probably would.

No more Italians....they're the biggest knobs!

couldnt agree more

Sell Aquilani to be honest, he's being a total douche!