Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness has taken a dig at Liverpool and Florian Wirtz after the German rejected the Bavarians in order to join the Reds
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool reacts after West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola had saved his shot during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool reacts after goalkeeper Alphonse Areola had saved his shot during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium
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Florian Wirtz returned from injury to play a starring role for Liverpool as they returned to winning ways away at West Ham United on Sunday. But that has not stopped the German from again being at the centre of some controversial comments from the direction of his scorned former transfer suitors, Bayern Munich.
The playmaker rejected interest from the likes of the Bavarians and Man City to join the Reds in an £116m switch from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
But with the reigning Premier League champions ultimately struggling so far this season, the 22-year-old has endured a slow start to life at Anfield.
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Making 17 appearances for Liverpool to date, Wirtz is yet to score for the Reds and has failed to register a goal contribution of any sort in the Premier League as he continues to adapt to English football.
With his performances coming under scrutiny as a result, he has also found himself in and out of Arne Slot’s starting XI and used in a number of different positions.
But a surprise starter at West Ham on Saturday after missing two games with a muscle injury, Wirtz was one of Liverpool’s standout players as he impressed after being restored to his favoured number 10 position.
And while his wait for a goal contribution in the English top-flight goes on, he played a crucial role in the Reds’ opener as he picked out Cody Gakpo to cross for Alexander Isak to break the deadlock at the London Stadium.
Victory saw Liverpool bounce back after successive heavy defeats against Man City, Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven, and move up to eighth in the Premier League table. And while they have still lost nine of their last 13 matches, it was a step in the right direction for Slot’s side.
But that has not stopped Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness from throwing a sly dig at the Reds and sharing his sympathy for Wirtz in rather condescending fashion after he opted to join Liverpool over the Bundesliga giants.
Bayern, who signed Luis Diaz from the Reds this summer, have enjoyed a remarkable campaign so far and won 18 of their 20 matches in all competitions. Last week’s defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League is their only loss.
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Speaking at a ‘Power Days’ event at the Munich Olympic Hall on Sunday evening, Hoeness lauded Bayern as one of the very best teams in the world when addressing a 10,000 person crowd before later taking aim at Liverpool and Wirtz.
"We have proven this season that we can compete with the very best,” he said, as quoted by BILD. “We beat Chelsea, one of the best teams in the world.
“We won in Paris and deservedly lost against Arsenal, a superb team. But I would already describe FC Bayern as one of the three to five best teams in the world…
“They (Liverpool) spent €500 million and are having a disastrous season. In my opinion, that's because they only have superstars.
“I always say: Liverpool will soon have to play with five balls because the stars won't give up any of them.
“Poor Florian Wirtz, he doesn't even get a ball because Salah and Szoboszlai and all the others want to play with their own."
Bayern had previously been favourites to sign Wirtz, only to see Liverpool secure his signature following a successful pitch from Slot. In the months that have followed, a number of contentious comments have emerged from their camp regarding the German and the Reds with Hoeness’ remarks only the latest swipe.
While Bayern might be enjoying a far more impressive campaign than Liverpool to date, such bitterness would suggest they are still feeling hard done by at missing out on Wirtz to the Reds in the first place.