Arne Slot has labeled Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso as a ‘special manager’ ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League match against the German champions on Tuesday.

Alonso’s Leverkusen team went undefeated in the Bundesliga last season on their way to the first league title in their history. The club also won the DFB Pokal last season, with their only defeat in all competitions coming against Atalanta in the Europa League final.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder was a frontrunner to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield following the German’s decision to step down at the end of last season, before deciding to stay at Leverkusen until the end of the 2024-2025 season to stay.

“It is difficult to say what makes him a special manager if you do not work with him every day, but he is, that is clear,” Slot said at a press conference on Monday.

“When he took over he didn’t spend much at the bottom of the league, mainly the same players, and they only lost in the Europa League final. What makes him special is difficult because I haven’t met him or been with worked with him.” But what the situation could be is that he has worked with great managers in the past and played at the highest level. He knows and understands what players feel at certain moments.

“That all contributes to what kind of manager he is. The best way to find out what makes him special is to ask the players he has worked with.”

The Leverkusen coach is well known at Liverpool. He made 210 appearances for the club from 2004 to 2009, when he was central to their success, including a Champions League win in 2005, but he won’t have time to walk down memory lane.

“Unfortunately there is no time for tourism – maybe tomorrow a little running or walking. I know the city very well, I love it, but tomorrow I will concentrate on the game and only the game,” he said.

“It feels great to be back here after a few years. It’s always special. You notice the development of the club; the new stands look great. Tomorrow is a big match against Liverpool, it can be much better than that not be.”

Alonso acknowledged the challenge his side faced against his former club.

“For us it is a big challenge. Liverpool are one of the best, if not the best, in Europe at the moment. They are showing that in the Premier League and the Champions League they have a good team and a great coach. We are looking forward to it, let’s see what happens,” Alonso said.

“You can play great for 70 minutes and after 20 minutes the game is over, so mentally and emotionally we have to be ready.”

Liverpool are at the top of the Premier League after ten games and enter the battle on Tuesday as leaders in the Champions League with nine points. Their strong start to the season is even more impressive when you consider the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the futures of three of their key players: Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The trio’s contract expires at the end of the season and extensions have yet to be agreed. On Sunday, Salah posted a cryptic post on Instagram, saying: “Whatever happens. I will never forget what scoring at Anfield feels like.”

However, Slot said that he was not bothered by the Egyptian’s social media activities.

“I don’t look at the players’ Instagram posts, I talk to them. Mo is in a really good place at the moment. He has always been at Liverpool, but at the moment too,” he said.

“I hope he can post another one after tomorrow and Saturday. For me it is important what he tells me. That’s what matters, not how you interpret that post.”

This story used information from Reuters.