Xabi Alonso: his Real Madrid exit came earlier than expected
The Chelsea coach looks back on his January sacking by Real Madrid and says he holds no anger, having given the job his best shot.
Xabi Alonso, now in charge of Chelsea, has spoken about leaving Real Madrid, where he was sacked in January after losing to Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa final. Speaking to Jamie Carragher in an interview reported by Mundo Deportivo, the Basque coach admits his spell ended earlier than planned, and that he never knew whether it would have ended well or badly.
Alonso recalls that the exit came mid-season, while the team was still fighting for La Liga and the Champions League. About the Bernabéu job, he says managing Madrid is special and unlike any other club, and he does not look back in anger: he tried, and gave it his best.
On joining Chelsea, he explains he had no prior link with the club, but the potential there convinced him. After Leverkusen and a spell without a club following Madrid, he wanted that good feeling about where to go next.
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