Hansi Flick (foto: Getty Images)
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed support for Xabi Alonso after his Real Madrid exit, saying he is a fantastic coach and warning that the coaching profession is extremely unforgiving.
Xabi Alonso is no longer the coach of Real Madrid, and the news has also been closely followed in Barcelona, despite the fierce rivalry between the two clubs.
Although Real and Barcelona are eternal enemies, Hansi Flick and Xabi Alonso share a good personal relationship, dating back to their time in Germany.
The Barcelona coach did not want to comment too much on Real Madrid’s decision, but he made it very clear that he has enormous respect for the Basque coach.
“This is not my business. I have a very good relationship with Xabi Alonso. We met in Leverkusen and stayed in touch. He is a fantastic coach and I wish him all the best in his next big project. I only have good things to say about him,” said the 60-year-old German.
“Coaching is a very ungrateful job”
Flick also used the opportunity to reflect more broadly on the reality of the coaching profession.
“This is part of football. You need the trust of the club and the players. Of those who make the decisions. But this is not my business and I don’t want to talk about these things, because the job of a coach is very ungrateful. We carry a huge responsibility,” he added.
Flick arrived at Barcelona in the summer of 2024 and has so far had a very successful spell, with his team currently leading La Liga.
What next for Xabi Alonso?
It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Xabi Alonso.
His work in Germany was highly successful, and there is a general feeling in the football world that he will not be without offers for long.
Could England be the next stop?
As a player, Alonso left a deep mark at Liverpool, and in the past he has already been linked with the coaching job at the English giant, especially when Jürgen Klopp decided to leave.
Liverpool are not currently looking for a new coach, but the situation is different at Manchester United, and by the summer several Premier League benches could become vacant.
Tottenham could also start thinking about Alonso if they decide to end their experiment with Thomas Frank, which so far has not delivered the desired results.
One thing seems certain: Xabi Alonso’s story at the top level is far from over.