Xabi Alonso attended Bayer Leverkusen's media conference on Thursday. (Photo credit: Rolf Vennenbernd/picture Alliance via Getty Images)
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso said on Thursday that it was “not the right time” to talk about his future, with the club linked with Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
Leverkusen, led by Alonso, are at the top of the Bundesliga with an eight-point difference and are undefeated in all competitions this season, his first year with the club.
Asked if he would be in the Leverkusen dugout again next season, Alonso replied: “For now.”
The 42-year-old manager follows Bayern's announcement on Wednesday that Thomas Tuchel will leave the club at the end of the season, and Jurgen Klopp's decision to leave Liverpool in the summer. It is understood that two of the clubs may have vacancies in the future.
“You may have one or two questions about my future. I'm sorry, but there is nothing new,” the Leverkusen manager said in a statement to journalists at the beginning of Thursday's press conference.
“I'm the coach here now, that's for sure. I can't say anything new about the future. We'll see.”
The manager, who took over as Leverkusen manager in October 2022 as the club hovered around the relegation zone, said rumors of a summer departure were “just a theory”.
Alonso, who is eight points behind second-placed Bayern with 12 games remaining, has Leverkusen on track to win their first title in Germany's top flight.
The manager, who won titles in Spain, Germany and England as a player, told reporters that neither he nor his team were under any pressure.
“I don't feel it. We are very focused so (the pressure) is not a problem.”
Leverkusen host penultimate side Mainz on Friday and a win could increase their lead by 11 points. Bayern hosts RB Leipzig on Saturday.
