According to a current Premier League football Liverpool have been linked with a manager recently who plays like Xabi Alonso.
For a while it seemed like Liverpool were going to appoint Xabi Alonso as the club’s new manager. It seemed written in the stars.
Alonso has achieved unprecedented success at Bayer Leverkusen this season. His track record has been brilliant at the club, and he’s taken them from fighting for relegation into Bundesliga champions.
The last time someone managed to achieve that who didn’t work for Bayern Munich was Jurgen Klopp. So, it seemed natural, especially given Alonso’s affiliation to Liverpool, that Alonso would be the candidate to replace Klopp at Anfield.
But it did not work out that way. Instead, Alonso has opted to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for now. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s search for a new manager continues.
What Joao Palhinha has said about Ruben Amorim’s playing style
One of the favourites to succeed Klopp now is Ruben Amorim.He has has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield recently, just like Alonso was a few months ago.
On paper, Amorim’s appointment makes sense for Liverpool. He is an exciting young coach, who already has five years worth of experience at a high level in Portugal.
He’s got a track record of delivering success, winning a cup with Braga and delivering a first league title for Sporting CP in 19 years.
At the same time, he also loves to give young players an opportunity and is known as a great man manager.
Now one of his former players Joao Palhinha has given an interview to the Daily Mail, where he has compared Amorim’s style of play at Sporting CP to Alonso’s at Bayer Leverkusen.
“He plays with three at the back. He likes to have possession. At Braga, he didn’t change even when we didn’t win. He kept the same idea with the build-up,” Palhinha said.
“’If I needed to compare his teams with anyone, it is this season’s Bayer Leverkusen (under Alonso). The way they want to have the ball and manage the ball.”
What Joao Palhinha has said about Amorim moving to Liverpool
In the same interview, Palhinha, who now plays for Fulham in the Premier League, also spoke about Amorim’s links with Liverpool, and he backed his former manager to succeed at Anfield.
“If he signs for Liverpool, I have no doubt people will like his personality,” Palhinha said.
“I can believe he is a big option to replace Jurgen Klopp but we don’t know what will happen. He’ll step into a higher level in his career at some point.
“You can’t fully compare Sporting with a world club like Liverpool but there is also big pressure on a coach fighting for titles in Portugal. He is used to coping with that.”
“If it does happen he goes to Liverpool, it will be a new challenge but their players are adaptable and his way is good,” Palhinha added.