News'It doesn't get much better' - Xabi Alonso on Anfield return with Leverkusen
The former Reds midfielder – a Champions League winner in 2004-05, the first of five seasons with the club – returns to L4 as an opponent for the first time.
His Leverkusen team, who were crowned Bundesliga champions without losing a game last term, touched down on Merseyside on Monday evening.
Alonso then spoke at a press conference inside the stadium he once called home, to preview the 8pm GMT kick-off against Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Read some of the Spaniard’s quotes about returning to the city and facing his old club in the competition’s league phase below…
On how it feels to be back in Liverpool…
For sure it feels great. After a few years, to be back here is always special. You notice the development of the club, I see the new Anfield Road Stand, it looks pretty amazing. And for sure tomorrow we have a big game, coming here in the Champions League against Liverpool. They are in a great moment. It doesn’t get much better than that and we are looking forward to tomorrow.
On the reception he hopes to get from the Anfield crowd…
Let’s see. I will wait. I am not thinking that much, I am more thinking about how to prepare the game. But hopefully it will be good, I am positive.
On the fixture…
We have a big one with great players from both sides, from Liverpool and from us as well. Really looking forward to that. For us, it’s a big challenge to come here. Probably Liverpool at the moment are one of the best, if not the best, teams in Europe. They are showing that in the Champions League, they are showing that in a very, very strong Premier League. A good squad, a good coach. Playing at Anfield is a big challenge but I think all of us are looking forward to it, for sure the players, and let’s see what happens tomorrow.
On whether it will be easy for him to handle his emotions if Anfield sings his name…
We will see, I will tell you probably after the game how I feel. There will be a moment for everything. But the main thing is not me, the main thing is the players, how they can deal with the emotions you have here in this stadium. We have a good moment, for us this challenge to play against one of the best in Europe and to come to Anfield is a great challenge, and this desire to show our best football – it’s going to be a great energy and let’s see tomorrow. My side, we can talk after the game.
On his best memory of his time at Liverpool…
Well, I’m not going to be very original I guess! Even after almost 20 years, they ask for that night, for that miracle. And for sure, that was the beginning of something great that we started that year in 2005. What we did against that Milan was fantastic memories. I talk a little bit but not too much because I like to talk more about our thing now. But yeah, for sure, Istanbul is the iconic moment for me.