German legend Rudi Völler, the current DFB sporting director, has revealed what Florian Wirtz has thought about his time at Liverpool so far.
Sport 1 cover comments from Völler today from an interview with the newspaper Welt am Sonntag. He discussed Wirtz and his difficult start to life at Liverpool so far.
Wirtz was one of the major moves of a very busy summer transfer window for the Reds. He was signed for €100m, with €25m included in bonuses from Bayer Leverkusen, amid competition from Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
There was great expectation about the move following his time at Leverkusen. Wirtz managed 57 goals and 65 assists in all 197 games for the German club, establishing himself as one of the rising stars in Europe.
He has not been able to replicate that at Liverpool. He is yet to score for the Reds and has just three assists in 21 games in all competition. None of them have come in the Premier League.
It’s been a difficult integration into life in England, to say the least, with some questioning the move entirely. Völler insists that Wirt isn’t one of those with doubts, but he has admitted he though it would be easier.
“Florian is essentially playing in Liverpool with the same self-confidence he displayed on the pitch in Leverkusen,” he said.
“However, he’s not being sought out as often on the field as he was when he wore the Bayer Leverkusen jersey. But he has to earn that.
“(The fee is) not the problem. That doesn’t bother Florian. He certainly thought it would be a little easier to find his place in the team.
“The team functioned perfectly last season, then it underwent some changes. It takes time for everything to fall into place. Florian has to persevere through this. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time until he’s truly settled in there and gives Liverpool what he wants to give and, above all, what he’s capable of giving.”