Florian Wirtz has had a difficult first few months at Liverpool since his £116million transfer to Merseyside from Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz
Liverpool's form has not helped Florian Wirtz, claims Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann
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Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has suggested that Florian Wirtz's form has dipped due to Liverpool's lack of stability this season. Wirtz, who has started seven Premier League games, has shown signs of struggle - his latest coming in a difficult outing against Manchester City.
Since his £116million move to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz is yet to register a Premier League goal or assist for the club, failing to replicate the form that warranted his big-money signing. Nonetheless, the midfielder was called up by Nagelsmann for Germany's World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia this month.
Speaking during his press conference, Nagelsmann discussed the Wirtz's inconsistencies. "To be honest, the whole situation does not make it easy for him either," he said.
"The whole club itself [Liverpool] is not as stable this year as it was last year. It's much harder to slip into the team now.
"If you look vs [Manchester] City, they were the worse team over the 90 minutes. So it is also difficult for Flo to make any real big impact.
"Ultimately, the overall situation is such that he just needs a little more time - which is normal and you see that with other players, who move to the English Premier League as well."
Julian Nagelsmann
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann
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Nagelsmann then called on Wirtz's Liverpool teammates to convert the chances he creates.
"We all know what he is capable of and it is perfectly normal for a player of his age to go through a bit of a dip in form," the former Bayern Munich boss added. "We cannot expect him to perform at the same level for three years straight.
"Instead, we all need to support him a little bit, so that he can clear his head here and then, maybe, Liverpool could also help him out by scoring some of the chances he creates.
"That would be one idea, because he does create a few chances. It is just that they somehow do not like to shoot the ball in, from those chances. That is part of the truth."