Jump to content
I will no longer be developing resources for Invision Community Suite ×
By fans, for fans. By fans, for fans. By fans, for fans.

Xabi

Montse

By Montse
in Liverpool FC

 Share

Recommended Posts

Montse

Montse

Posted
Posted

654 days since his emotional leaving of Liverpool, 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."

The Offal

 

Still love him to bits and really wish he hadnt left. The season before Rafa told him he would listen to offers, most would agree wasnt his best, but a lot changes in a year and it obviously unsettled him - ho hum what if eh! :rolleyes:

épieur

épieur

Posted
Posted

I am not sure we can keep being good friends if you're not coming back, Xabi. It hurts too much.

 

Goddammit Rafa. Biggest mistake you ever made here this. Gareth f***ing Barry.

 

 

carrafan

carrafan

Posted
Posted (edited)

It was nobody's fault. Just football as an emotional sport and practical business.

 

Rafa was strapped for cash and Alonso who had underachieved for 18 months was one of our more sellable options. No one was ready to pay what we wanted (which means that Rafa didnt have anything personal against him). And as professional as both were, Alonso went on to have a great season but maybe felt that he wasnt loved as much as Gerrard or whoever, as we fought tooth and nail to keep some of our other players. We had also missed our best chance in years to win the league and had no idea when the next one was coming under G&H.

 

Meaning, Alonso got to go back to a great club back home and we made Madrid pay through their nose for him. Lets just move on. There have been cases in the past and many more to come in the future where players simply want a new challenge and leave not because they have a grudge. No reason to hate him or Rafa or even Madrid for it.

Edited by carrafan
nb

nb

Posted
Posted

I am a big Rafa-fan, but his choices when it comes to Alonso I just don't understand. His biggest mistake as a Liverpool manager.

épieur

épieur

Posted
Posted

there's absolutely nothing more to discuss on this topic is there? please?

 

Depends on whether there are still people religious enough to maintain that Rafa was blameless and so on.

 

Don't think Xabi could be much clearer here that he was left unsettled by the Barry saga and that is why he wanted to leave.

 

"It was nobody's fault" is just the cries of those who can not abide the thought of discord in the household. But it was a massive mistake by Rafa at the time and a lot of people didn't need hindsight to tell you that. Probably cost Rafa his job in the end.

Hassony

Hassony

Posted
Posted

Depends on whether there are still people religious enough to maintain that Rafa was blameless and so on.

 

Don't think Xabi could be much clearer here that he was left unsettled by the Barry saga and that is why he wanted to leave.

 

"It was nobody's fault" is just the cries of those who can not abide the thought of discord in the household. But it was a massive mistake by Rafa at the time and a lot of people didn't need hindsight to tell you that. Probably cost Rafa his job in the end.

 

I think you'll find that almost everyone didn't want to replace Alonso with Barry

 

and I still think Rafa was hoping that he would have replaced alonso with Barry + someone like silva, but no one bid more than £12m for Alonso

 

alonso can say what he wants, but if Real (or Barca) didn't come in for him in 09, I am pretty sure that he would have stayed at Liverpool

Stevie H

Stevie H

Posted
Posted

Depends on whether there are still people religious enough to maintain that Rafa was blameless and so on.

 

Don't think Xabi could be much clearer here that he was left unsettled by the Barry saga and that is why he wanted to leave.

 

"It was nobody's fault" is just the cries of those who can not abide the thought of discord in the household. But it was a massive mistake by Rafa at the time and a lot of people didn't need hindsight to tell you that. Probably cost Rafa his job in the end.

after all that happened you don't really believe that do you?

 

christ i swore i'd have no truck with this.

épieur

épieur

Posted
Posted

after all that happened you don't really believe that do you?

 

christ i swore i'd have no truck with this.

 

I think the squad morale wouldn't have taken the hit it did and Xabi's presence would have made a significant difference to our performance in Rafa's final season, which would have seen us get 4th.

 

I don't think Purslow would have dared sack him if we got 4th.

Leo No.8

Leo No.8

Posted
Posted

I honestly think had Madrid come in for Xabi when they did without the Barry thing he'd have gone anyway. Still wouldn't have blamed him though; gave us fantastic service, made a huge profit on him and he's clearly kept the club close to his heart. Back home to Spain to bring the kids up too, and playing for one of if not the biggest club in the world. There's no point in 'what ifs', if Rafa hadn't been appointed and bought him we'd never have been graced by his wonderful football at all.

 

Yes Rafa made a mistake with the whole Barry thing, but he signed Xabi in the first place and I don't hold it against him. Not least because I stupidly agreed with the idea at the time...:)

Bailo

Bailo

Posted
Posted

I don't blame Rafa or Xabi. I blame the c**** running the club that meant that Rafa had to look at players like Xabi as saleable assets to deal with, rather than players to build teams around and add quality to.

Montse

Montse

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I think at the time with the tight purse strings it was one or the other, not both that Rafa could have. O'Neill played tosspot and in the space of 12 months we lost them both - in a properly run club this wouldnt have happened I believe :(

John am Rhein

John am Rhein

Posted
Posted

alonso can say what he wants, but if Real (or Barca) didn't come in for him in 09, I am pretty sure that he would have stayed at Liverpool

 

it's his fault for playing well during 2008/09

 

I don't blame Rafa or Xabi. I blame the c**** running the club that meant that Rafa had to look at players like Xabi as saleable assets to deal with, rather than players to build teams around and add quality to.

 

this

David Hodgson

David Hodgson

Posted
Posted

I honestly think had Madrid come in for Xabi when they did without the Barry thing he'd have gone anyway. Still wouldn't have blamed him though; gave us fantastic service, made a huge profit on him and he's clearly kept the club close to his heart. Back home to Spain to bring the kids up too, and playing for one of if not the biggest club in the world. There's no point in 'what ifs', if Rafa hadn't been appointed and bought him we'd never have been graced by his wonderful football at all.

 

Yes Rafa made a mistake with the whole Barry thing, but he signed Xabi in the first place and I don't hold it against him. Not least because I stupidly agreed with the idea at the time...:)

 

Yes, there's always a reasonable possibility that even if he'd felt 100% loved by Rafa he'd have still pushed to be sold to Madrid in summer 2009. That doesn't change the fact that but for Gareth Barry's price going up and up, and no-one stumping up proper money for Xabi in summer 2008, we would have lost a great player a year early. Did Rafa make a major mistake on Xabi ? Obviously he did. Does it make Rafa a 'bad manager' ? Of course not.

 

I don't blame Rafa or Xabi. I blame the c**** running the club that meant that Rafa had to look at players like Xabi as saleable assets to deal with, rather than players to build teams around and add quality to.

 

The summer Rafa wanted to sell Xabi we had a net spend of about £20m. Not a fortune, but not one that can be pinned on G & H.

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Home

Notifications

PMs
×
×
  • Create New...