On Friday, Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso denied suggestions that he could replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Klopp announced on Friday that he will be leaving the club he joined in 2015, citing a “running out of energy.”
Alonso, a former Liverpool player whose unbeaten Leverkusen side leads the Bundesliga by four points over Bayern Munich, has been linked with a return to the club where he won the Champions League as a player in 2005.
Saying the “speculation is normal”, Alonso told reporters: “At the moment I am really happy here… I’m not thinking about May, I’m thinking about tomorrow’s game.
“Each day is a challenge, each game is a challenge and we are on an intense and beautiful journey here in Leverkusen.”
German media has reported 42-year-old Alonso has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave for one of his former clubs — Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich — should an opportunity arise.
“I am not thinking about the next step,” he said.
“I am thinking about where I am right now – I am in a great place and I am enjoying myself. And I think it’s the right place, so that’s all I can say.
“What’s going to happen in the future? I don’t know and I don’t really care at the moment.”
Alonso lauded Klopp, adding he had “huge respect and great admiration for what Jurgen has done for Liverpool over the last nine years – and how he did it.”
Leverkusen has dropped only six of a possible 54 points this season and has won all of its Europa League and German Cup games. They play Borussia Moenchengladbach at home on Saturday.