Don’t try telling Bayer Leverkusen fans to have a pleased Easter.
The reigning Bundesliga champions saw their title defence practically ended on Sunday, and on Monday it looks like manager Xabi Alonso could possibly be following one in every of his stalwarts out of the door.
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Leverkusen drew 1-1 to St. Pauli to provide league leaders Bayern Munich an eight point advantage with 4 games left to play.
Meaning the Staff’ Eleven will almost definitely end the season trophyless, which isn’t an incredible situation with Alonso being so heavily linked to Real Madrid.
talkSPORT earlier reported that Leverkusen is not going to stand in the way in which of him replacing the under-pressure Carlo Ancelotti, and the club’s CEO has now confirmed that.
Fernando Carro was asked concerning the links to Madrid on the Laureus World Sports Awards and said: “We’ve got a gentlemen’s agreement. If a team he has played for comes, we’ll sit down and talk and we won’t put obstacles in his way.
“He’s played for Bayern [Munich], Liverpool, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad…. possibly Real Sociedad will come.”
Alonso was linked with the identical clubs last summer, but opted to defend his Bundesliga and DFB Pokal titles as Bayern went for Vincent Kompany and Liverpool Arne Slot who at the moment are each leading their respective leagues.
Madrid also kept Ancelotti in situ after LaLiga and Champions League wins, however the latter of those competitions is now gone with defeat to Arsenal and the previous is complicated by Barcelona’s 4 point league lead.
Carro also spoke of his respect for Madrid and admitted they’ve a ‘fluid and skilled’ relationship relating to transfers.
Yet he did also say they’re still planning for things to remain the identical, adding: “We’re already preparing for pre-season with Xabi Alonso, we’re preparing the squad with him.
“If Xabi does find yourself going some other place, then we now have to make that clear to him in the following few weeks and we’ll discuss it with him in the following few weeks.
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“We is not going to wait until the top of the season, we can have to make your mind up beforehand because that can have other consequences for squad planning and preparation.
“Subsequently, each Xabi and we ourselves are aware: This can be a decision that can not be dragged out for much longer, but have to be decided relatively quickly.
“My gut feeling? My gut feeling is 50:50.”
Unexpected winners of their first ever Bundesliga title last term, Leverkusen achieved the rare feat of not having their squad savaged by the larger teams.
Yet this summer is already different, with key defender Jonathan Tah confirming his departure.
The Germany international will develop into a free agent this summer and has told the media that he’s already told the club he won’t be signing a brand new deal.
“The club knows about it, and, as I actually have all the time done, I’ve communicated every thing very openly,” he revealed.
“The whole lot was said from the start. There was a degree after I made the choice not to increase my contract and never to remain here, and that is the way it is now.”
Leverkusen have a wildcard in difficult for the league again next 12 months with Bundesliga Player of the 12 months Florian Wirtz continually improving and Carro also discussed the attacker’s future.
Continuously linked with Bayern and talked up by the Bavarian’s executives, Carro expressed his annoyance on the perceived tapping up.
“I expect him to remain. There isn’t a offer,” he said.
“It’s really a show. It’s none of my business. They talk a lot, it’s actually not appropriate.”
