Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso proves why he'd be perfect for Liverpool
Xabi Alonso remains on course for an historic treble in his first full season as Bayer Leverkusen boss thanks to a dramatic cup victory on Tuesday night.
Leverkusen trailed 1-0 and 2-1 at home to VfB Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal quarter-final, only to claim a last-gasp winner through Jonathan Tah. With Bayern Munich eliminated by lower-league Saarbrucken in the second round and holders RB Leipzig falling at the same stage, Alonso's side have a golden chance of claiming silverware.
They already sit top of the Bundesliga table ahead of Bayern, meaning a league and cup double is very much within their grasp. Leverkusen even have a chance of ending the season with three trophies, having topped their Europa League group with maximum points.
Liverpool will be casting their eye over potential successors to Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January that this season will be his last at Anfield. Alonso is by no means the only candidate, but the manner of Tuesday's win - as well as Leverkusen's form last season and this - is impossible to ignore amid reports he has been contacted by the Reds.
Alonso was asked about the soon-to-be-vacant Liverpool post in January, but insisted his focus remained on the task at hand in Germany. "I was surprised by Jurgen's news. I have huge respect for Jurgen and Liverpool," he said. "At the moment I am really happy here and enjoying my work. Each day and game is a challenge. We are in an intense and beautiful journey here at Leverkusen.
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"Speculation is normal, but I have great respect and admiration for what Jurgen has done at Liverpool in the last nine years, and how he's done it. He has a connection with the fans, he's done a great job, but my focus is here at Bayer Leverkusen.
"I have great motivation to do a good job here, I'm very happy with the team, with the club, with everything, so that's my focus. My focus isn't on May, it's on tomorrow ahead of our game against Gladbach and helping my players to be ready. But what I will say is it was surprising what happened at Liverpool with Jurgen leaving."
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Jonathan Tah sent Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen into the semi-finals (Anadolu via Getty Images)Leverkusen's win extended their unbeaten start to the season to 30 games in all competitions. They have a huge test on the horizon, though, with title challengers Bayern travelling to the BayArena on Saturday.
"Obviously this win gives us a big push, a lot of energy for the task ahead of us," match-winner Tah said, per ESPN. "We are looking forward to it.
"What makes us strong is that we are focusing only on us," Tah said. "We are not focusing on what could happen at the end of the season, and that is the we way we will keep going."
Leverkusen's win sees them join second-tier sides Kaiserslautern and Fortuna Dusseldorf in the semi-finals. The fourth spot will go to the winner of the last quarter-final, which sees third-tier Saarbrucken host Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.
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