Article From the TIMES Xabi Alonso saddened by Liverpool's struggles in Champions League Devastated is the word that Steven Gerrard used to describe how he felt when Xabi Alonso left Liverpool. It is a strong word. “Gutted” is trotted out routinely by footballers, but “devastated” cuts far deeper, revealing the kind of pain that has been all too apparent in the turbulent five-week spell that has turned Liverpool’s season into something already approaching a write-off. There was a time in the opening weeks of this troubled season when Alonso’s departure to Real Madrid for £30 million was identified as the reason why Liverpool had receded from a title-challenging team into one that had lost four Barclays Premier League games by the middle of last month. It is only as the results have worsened — one win, one draw and six defeats in the past eight games, leaving them out of the Carling Cup, all but out of the Champions League and nine points adrift in the Premier League — that the focus has shifted away from the gap in midfield and on to deeper, underlying problems. It is a predicament that brought a sad look to Alonso’s face as he stopped to chat on the way out of the San Siro stadium on Tuesday evening. He had just produced a highly assured performance in Real’s 1-1 draw with AC Milan, but that did not stop him looking ahead to Liverpool’s date with Lyons the night after, backing them to invoke the spirit they have summoned so often in the Champions League — as they seemed to have done again until Lisandro López’s last-minute equaliser left them in need of a “miracle”, as Rafael BenÃtez conceded. What of Gerrard’s claim that Alonso’s departure left the captain — and thus quite possibly the team — devastated? While the points in Lyons were frittered away in attack, where opportunities were wasted in the 1-1 draw, and defence, where Sotiris Kyrgiakos and Daniel Agger were dragged out of position before López’s goal, few could look at Liverpool’s midfield in recent weeks and claim that they are not missing Alonso. Quite apart from his range of passing, he brought a composure and a tactical discipline that have not been apparent in Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva. “Everyone knows that in football, when things aren’t right, the best player is always the one who isn’t there, whether they’re injured, suspended or no longer at the club,” Alonso said. “They still have a lot of good players. Alberto Aquilani [the midfield player signed from Roma to replace him] will hopefully be fit soon.” This is when the conversation turned to BenÃtez, with whom his relationship changed perceptibly during the 2007-08 campaign. After the manager tried and failed to replace him with Gareth Barry, Alonso went on to become an influential figure in last season’s title challenge but, the damage done, he was vigorous in pursuing the opportunity to join Real when the summer came. It was an acrimonious split, but even if his name has become taboo around Anfield — it was not his choice that he did not publish an open letter to the supporters on the club’s website, as John Arne Riise and Luis GarcÃa had upon leaving — Alonso backed BenÃtez to drag Liverpool out of their slump. “I still have great respect for him,” Alonso said. “I’m very grateful to him for the five great years I had at Liverpool. Of course the situation isn’t the best right now, but he knows how to turn it around. It’s not the Liverpool way to sack a manager after a few bad results early in the season. He is the right man for the club. It wouldn’t be a good decision to change the manager. He’s a great manager.” Those words will resonate with Liverpool’s supporters, as will the class with which they were delivered by a man who plans to return to Anfield one day to sit among them. At the San Siro on Tuesday his name was jeered by the Milanese in recognition of his role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph in 2005 — although not quite so loudly as that of Jerzy Dudek, Real’s reserve goalkeeper. Alonso is linked to Liverpool’s recent past, troubled by their present, but hopeful about their future.
miss him we may but can he honestly say he's setting the world alight,its not bitterness but real wont win anything this year,barca are still streets ahead of them still,(even with ibrahimovic playing trucker ) ,best of luck to him though,still look out for the madrid result at the weekend,hope he does well with them,tom and jerry were paid hadsomely for him,i know he has to try n answer what questions are asked but hopefully he starts to keep his trap shut as its not his place anymore !!!!!,time to move on,whatever grudges he seemingly has, we(or i in paticular) dont need or want to hear it anymore,it'll keep till his biography and im sure a lot of us will buy it,concentrate on your own team xabi,you lot aint exactly worldbeaters.
“Everyone knows that in football, when things aren’t right, the best player is always the one who isn’t there, whether they’re injured, suspended or no longer at the club,”Alonso said. “They still have a lot of good players. Alberto Aquilani [the midfield player signed from Roma to replace him] will hopefully be fit soon.” I don't think he was trying to say that we are missing him. I think he is having a dig at the media.
id put him on me back and carry/swin with him all the way to melwood to have him back! Class act. I miss his ginger beard too!
Jesus, just when I was beginning to get over him he comes out with something like that...absolutely love the chap. He is truely missed.
Think you completely misread the article if at all mate!! He basically said that the only reason his name is still mentioned is because of our results, he complimented our club and our manager and he indicated that he would love if we can turn it around and qualify for the Champions League. There was no hint of a grudge at all and I found the comment about keeping it for his autobiography crass!! Xabi Alonso is still a class act (both on and off the pitch)!
its sad to see him in white instead of our red i wish him all the best but it doesn't look right him playing for another team.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/8384196.stm xabi interview today on Football Focus...... much of the same as the Newspaper interview.... didn´t like him saying ´´torres is at the right club at the moment´´! - wtf, have madrid already got him tapping him up !!??
Ha ha, I noticed that aswell. I reckon Nando might end up at Real after a short stint with the bitters Nice to see Xabi doesnt seem to bitter about leaving us.
we not only have to worry about if he´ll get injured on internationals (which happens more often than not !), but if our ex-players are tapping him up ! it´s been rung to death, but letting him, Arbeloa & Hyppia go together is proving a catastophic error of judgement
Alonso wasnt tapping him up mate. Nando would never play for Madrid, Xabi knows that. And we didnt let Alonso go. He wanted to go.
Error or judgement wrong in my opinion. The Alonso thing is well documented,a player who had been out of form for 18 months and we looked to make 5 million extra on what we paid for him and Juventus felt it was too much.I fully understand Rafa's reasons for making him available as much as i fully understand Alonso's feelings for been made available for sale.It's the nature of the beast in this game and one which after Xabi's performances last season are in hindsight an error,but isnt hindsight a wonderful thing,where can you buy it? Sami wanted and felt he had more to offer LFC and i agree with him but he wanted guaranteed football and with 3 fully fit CB ahead of him in the pecking order and a potentially very good one coming through the reserve ranks regualar matches couldnt be guaranteed,againwith Carra's and Skertl's below par performances and Agger's injuries i think i need a 2nd bottle of that hindsight thats freely available in all good pharmacies. Arbeloa a solid and decent player has been replaced by a far more skilful player in his position,no need to give Rafa a clap on the back for that its his job,you win some you lose some, this was got right.Getting it right more often than not is vital.