Florian Wirtz arrived at Liverpool last summer as one of the most highly-rated young players in European football, with the Reds investing heavily to bring him to Anfield.
Expectations were inevitably high from the moment the deal was completed, with the size of the transfer fee adding further pressure to a young player still adapting to a new league and a new team.
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The German international was expected to make an immediate impact, but his first season on Merseyside proved more difficult than many had anticipated.
Wirtz was also unfortunate to arrive at a time when Liverpool endured a difficult campaign under Arne Slot, with the team struggling to find the consistency that had characterised their previous season.
That made it particularly difficult for Wirtz to settle into English football, as he was having to adapt while playing in a side that was itself searching for answers.
Despite flashes of his quality, the midfielder was unable to consistently produce the level of performances expected following his big-money move.
However, Wirtz’s ability has never really been questioned, and his football intelligence remains one of his biggest strengths.
Arne Slot’s successor, Andoni Iraola, has now offered an insight into the midfielder’s game, having worked with him and identified an area where he can become even more effective.
Speaking to Men In Blazers, Iraola explained: “Florian understands the game very well, on the ball and without the ball. He understands the spaces that he has to take, who is covering him, how he has to move, how to damage the opposition.”
“Sometimes, he gets too attracted to the ball because he wants to be involved and touch the ball all the time.”
“Sometimes, I have to tell him to leave some distance, wait, be a little bit more patient so the game arrives to you, and then you can hurt the opposition.”
“But I think he loves the game. He asks the correct questions and you can feel it straight away.”
Iraola’s comments highlight that Wirtz’s desire to influence matches can occasionally work against him, with greater patience potentially allowing him to find more dangerous positions.
For Liverpool, that could be an important development as Wirtz looks to establish himself at Anfield and demonstrate why the club were prepared to make such a significant investment in his services.