Xabi Alonso made his desire to remain at Bayer Leverkusen public on Friday.
The former Reds midfielder was leaning heavily towards remaining in Germany for the upcoming season despite both Bayern and Liverpool making him their top target
Alonso addressed speculation around his future ahead of his side's clash with Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Alonso
"We have been here many times. It has been a season with much speculation regarding my future and until now we have had so many games.
"We have been pretty busy, pretty focused, and I wanted to use that time of the international break to reflect a little bit better and to make a decision.
"Last week I had a very good meeting when I informed the club of my decision to continue being coach of Bayer Leverkusen.
"For sure all the decisions needed to be analysed well and I tried to take the right ones.
"I tried to take them that I feel they come in a natural way and at this moment I felt that this is the best place for me to be, for me to develop as a coach.
"I am a young coach but I have to feel it and right now I feel that this is the right place and I have to thank the management, the club that has been really supportive.
"I feel really respected by all the departments. The fans that show great support during this year and last year in difficult moments, I feel that.
"We have all the reasons to believe and to dream that we can have a really great season, we are really pushing for that.
"A great staff that helps me day by day to work better, to prepare and improve the team.
"The players. For sure the players, they give me so many reasons to keep believing in the team for the commitment, for the desire, for the hunger to have a great season.
"I want to help them, I want to help the team, I want to help the young players to develop and if I am part of a process I am happy with that.
"Putting all the things together, I have taken this important decision and I am convinced it is the right one, I am happy.
"I am still young so time will tell but right now I feel like that."
Alonso added:
"It is a process, the development of the team is being parallel as my development as a manager.
"This is my first complete season as a manager so I think that I still have a lot of things to prove to myself, to experience.
"Right now I have a situation at the club where I feel really stable, really happy with the team and the club. It comes together that we can work together in many aspects.
"I have shared that with the management and the players as well. We are in a situation that we have to enjoy.
"There is still two months to go, it's going to be really intense but really demanding but enjoyable hopefully.
"We need to give our best and for that it was good that the last week was my deadline and I had to make that decision.
"From now on all the cards are on the table and we go full gas for the big calls we have ahead of us. Lets see how far we can reach but our wish is clear."
When asked if this decision being public will now be a relief,
Alonso explained
"No. I have thought about the decision because important decisions you need to reflect well and to know.
"Once I had taken the decision it was important to share with everyone. I need to give them back the respect that they have shown me, I am grateful as well to these people that they believe.
"The fans, my staff, the players.
"So many people that come with me and that's important that I give them back what they have given me, that's a sign of respect, of appreciation. So far I feel that way."
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