Florian Wirtz has been defended by his Germany manager, Julian Nagelsmann, after the Liverpool attacker was criticised in the English media.
While Wirtz has been far from Liverpool’s worst performer this season, the £116 million paid for his services has provided extra grounds for scrutiny.
“We’ve been tiptoeing around him now for a few months,” said Gary Neville on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat at Man City.
“Today I thought Wirtz looked like a little boy.”
Nagelsmann has now responded to the criticism by saying it would help if “someone would just put the chances he puts forward into the net” because “he doesn’t exactly set up very few chances, it’s just that he doesn’t put them away.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, August 22, 2017: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's head coach Julian Nagelsmann during a press conference at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League Play-Off 2nd Leg match against Liverpool. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“That’s also part of the truth.”
Wirtz clearly has talent and is creating goalscoring opportunities – he ranks in the top 15 percent of comparable players for chances created per 90 this season, according to FotMob.
However, his confidence to make key passes has been lacking on occasion as he has taken time to adapt to life at Liverpool.
Nagelsmann added that he thought Liverpool’s collective poor form isn’t helping him either.
“To be honest, the whole situation does not make it easy for him either,” said the Germany boss.
MUNICH, GERMANY - Friday, June 14, 2024: Germany's Florian Wirtz celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the opening UEFA Euro 2024 Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Allianz Arena. Germany won 5-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“The whole club itself is not as stable this year as it was last year. It’s much harder to slip into the team now.
“If you look versus 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.”
How Germany and Northern Ireland can qualify for the World Cup
MUNICH, GERMANY - Friday, June 14, 2024: Germany's Florian Wirtz during the opening UEFA Euro 2024 Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Allianz Arena. Germany won 5-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Germany haven’t yet qualified for next summer’s World Cup, so Wirtz will have to be at near-full intensity for their upcoming matches away against Luxembourg and at home to Slovakia.
Die Mannschaft are currently top of Group A on goal difference – both they and Slovakia have accumulated six points from their four matches played.
Below them are Northern Ireland on six points, while Luxembourg are bottom with zero.
Three points against the basement dwellers would secure at least a play-off position for Germany, with a potential shootout for the automatic qualifying spot lying in wait on the final matchday against Slovakia.
For Conor Bradley‘s Northern Ireland to be sure of a play-off place, they would need to finish in second by beating Slovakia away on Friday night.
However, even if they finish third, they could still enter the play-offs thanks to their Nations League group win last year.