Andoni Iraola on why Jurgen Klopp's appointment as Germany boss will be ideal for Florian Wirtz at Liverpool
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 17: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Victor Munoz and Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on September 17, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz battles Victor Munoz for the ball in the Liverpool training session at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola believes Jurgen Klopp's appointment as Germany boss will only help Florian Wirtz become a better player at Liverpool.
Klopp was named as the new head coach of the German national side shortly after the World Cup and his first squad, named this week, includes Wirtz as one of 44 players that the former Liverpool boss is keen to examine before Nations League fixtures with the Netherlands, Serbia and two meetings with Greece.
Iraola thinks the presence of the Anfield legend at Germany will have a boost for his No.7, who is in line for a recall when the Reds are hosted by Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.
"No, I haven’t talked with Jurgen," Iraola said. "We will talk with some of the national team coaches, normally they are the ones who are asking for the players, so I am sure we will speak.
"Will Klopp help him at Germany? Yes, and starting from this international break he has done something which I think is very smart. He has picked two squads and he will see more players and also it will give the players some time off.
"And I think in cases such as Flo who will have some days to rest in the first part of the break that will be very good for us, the player, for Liverpool and also for the German national team. I think he is very smart with what he has done."
Speaking in a press conference earlier this week, Klopp said of Wirtz: “The communication has been very pleasant. We keep in touch from time to time.
“I think he's the player who covered the most ground at Liverpool this season, so the willingness is absolutely there.
“We have to move away from the idea that we need to see special moments from him. He is there to help us as a team. We have to make sure that Flo feels comfortable with us.
“When the team works, then every player shines as a consequence. You have to be satisfied with a game in which Flo Wirtz gave everything but didn’t have a goal or assist.
“We simply have to give the boy the feeling: ‘That was more than good enough today. You helped us as a team. We won 1-0 or 2-0’. And then all the experts sit there and discuss why it still didn’t work out for him.
"There are just as many reasons to say: ‘He is performing perfectly fine.’ Now we’ll take the next steps together. That applies for Flo and all the others.”