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German national team manager Julian Naglesmann has commented on Florian Wirtz and his situation at Liverpool FC.
The former Bayer Leverkusen star has not hit the ground running at Anfield, and with the turn of the year approaching – there is cause for concern.
Having been signed for a fee that could reach £116 million, Wirtz is yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League with his best performances so far coming in Europe.
Arne Slot has experimented with Wirtz’s position, playing him both centrally and out wide, in an effort to unlock his potential.
Pressure has no doubt mounted since his lukewarm display vs Manchester City,
Gary Neville even said that he “looked like a little boy” after the defeat at the Etihad on his Sky Sports podcast.
Most Reds supporters remain patient, aware that settling into a new league and club can take time, especially for a player who is still just 22.
With Liverpool’s attack still seeking rhythm and chemistry following summer changes, the club no doubt believes Wirtz’s talent will shine through as he continues to adapt and learn.
However, Germany manager Julian Naglesmann has come out during a recent press conference to explain how he sees the situation – and has claimed that the likes of Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak all want to be the ‘star player’:
“I always speak to Flo, regardless of his situation. It’s a very complex and difficult situation when you look at his club. Last year they won the Premier League and played very attractive football,” Naglesmann began.
“This year a few players left them, and they invested a lot of money on new players. So, the entire mix is very complex – each of the 5 attacking players wants to be the ‘star player’, this situation doesn’t make it easy for Flo – because the entire club is not as stable as they were last season.”
“I watched the game against City and they were the worse team over 90 minutes. It’s not easy for Flo to put his mark in such a situation,” he explained.
“We can see that a lot of players struggle when they move to another club where there have been many changes. In the end I can’t influence his performances at Liverpool. I can only influence what he does here.”
“I think he made steps in the right direction in October. We all know what he can do, it’s normal to have a dip in form. We’ll help and support him to keep a clear head.”
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