Jamie Carragher criticized Florian Wirtz after Liverpool's 2-2 draw against Newcastle, and Jurgen Klopp responded by adopting a different approach toward the midfielder
Jurgen Klopp commented on the Florian Wirtz situation with a message for Jamie Carragher
Jurgen Klopp commented on the Florian Wirtz situation with a message for Jamie Carragher(Image: Photo by Markus Ulmer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has called out Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville for criticizing Florian Wirtz after the opening game of the Premier League season.
Klopp, who will now coach Wirtz after agreeing to become the head coach of the German national team, attended the Bundesliga opening match between Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart on Friday night. During an appearance on Sky Sport, the conversation turned to Wirtz.
Carragher was critical of the midfielder after Liverpool snatched a late point during a 2-2 draw away to Newcastle. Wirtz has failed to justify his pricetag since joining Liverpool, but Klopp encouraged the player while calling out Carragher and Neville's recent comments.
Wirtz joined Liverpool in a blockbuster move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, and the $133 million fee broke the club's transfer record. Liverpool broke its own record later in the window, splashing $170 million on Newcastle striker Alexander Isak.
Neither player has flourished since moving to Liverpool, and Wirtz was substituted during the Premier League opener against Newcastle. Following the game, Neville admitted that he'd been "kind" to Isak and Wirtz, and Carragher dedicated a segment to Liverpool on Monday.
"I don’t see where he fits in at all in the team. I thought I’d be having that conversation in four or six weeks. I’m looking at it right now thinking, ‘What’s Iraola going to do with this?’ You can’t keep going with it. It’s not working. It didn’t work last season. I just think it’s getting into the stage that he doesn’t fit in," he said.
Wirtz has recently made contact with Klopp
Wirtz has recently made contact with Klopp(Image: (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images))
Carragher questioned Wirtz's valuation and his potential at the club. Neville also offered his views, adding, "He needs to sort himself out. Enough's enough now, we've talked about him enough. He's young and he's come to a different country — and I'm all for willing him on."
Klopp, who also revealed that he has recently been in contact with Wirtz, admitted that he has yet to figure it out at Liverpool but has taken a different approach. He called out Carragher's lack of patience in the process.
"I think Liverpool, at least, have absolutely understood where he actually needs to play. That is, of course, centrally in the half spaces, the pockets where he needs to operate," Klopp said on Sky Sport.
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville went in on Florian Wirtz after the first Premier League game
Carragher and Gary Neville went in on Florian Wirtz after the first Premier League game(Image: (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))
"But Flo also has to learn, of course. He has to play in such a way that, in the end, the manager doesn’t even consider taking him off. That’s just how it is. We can’t help him with that.
"I think they [Liverpool] will learn how to integrate him, and Flo simply has to play his game. That’s what it’s about. And I’d like to give him the opportunity to do that at some point.
"But anyone who wants to play for us HAS TO BE ABLE to counterpress. I played Shinji Kagawa as a No. 10. He didn’t make a single tackle and was still one of the best counterpressing players I’ve ever had. It’s not about physicality. It’s about wanting to contribute in that respect as well.
"From a footballing point of view, he is beyond any doubt, for me and for everyone else too. But Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and so on are, of course, always the first ones to get nervous in England."