Image for Liverpool fans will absolutely love what Jurgen Klopp’s said about Florian Wirtz now
Image for Liverpool fans will absolutely love what Jurgen Klopp’s said about Florian Wirtz now
Florian Wirtz may be under fire at Liverpool currently, but legendary former Jurgen Klopp has spoken brilliantly about him on international duty with Germany.
The 23-year-old hasn’t yet been the world-class performer that Liverpool hoped they were signing, but Germany teammate Jonathan Tah has defended him amid negativity coming his way:
“I’m happy he’s with us here for a few days. Of course I’m aware of how people are talking about him, but I can’t quite understand it. I know what kind of player he is. I know he’ll perform even better and shine even brighter.
“But I find it a bit extreme how he’s being attacked right now. He should just keep going. I watch every Liverpool game where Flo plays, he’s not playing bad games – sometimes the last moment is missing to score a goal or play a decisive pass. But that will come.”
Klopp has echoed that sentiment to reporters [via This Is Anfield], backing Wirtz to come good and praising plenty of aspects of his character and game:
“He is delivering a very good level physically, and the team has begun to regain its cohesion once again,” Klopp told reporters in his pre-Greece press conference.
“Attacking players always need a team that works well around them. And anyone who loves football can still see how outstanding Florian Wirtz is as a player. We need to make sure Flo feels comfortable here and can fit into the role we envision for him. Hopefully, he’ll simply be able to be himself here.
“We cannot do more than what we are doing here, by giving him enough training and playing time. Step by step, we give him certainty and a good feeling, and then we return him to Liverpool. I wish him all the best.”
Will Florian Wirtz reach his potential at Liverpool?
Even Wirtz’s most ardent supporter would have to admit that Liverpool haven’t yet seen the best of him, considering he won back-to-back Bundesliga Player of the Year awards during his Bayer Leverkusen days.
That said, there has still been a huge overreaction to the German’s form, with plenty of good on show over the past 12 months, from moments of creativity to an admirable work ethic.
With a little more luck, Wirtz’s assist record of 11 in 55 appearances for Liverpool could easily look better, and Andy Robertson stuck up for him earlier this week, saying:
“I see a really special footballer. But I know he’s got to prove he can do it in the Premier League because there’s so many special footballers that have come and sometimes not done it. In terms of his running stats, he was always one of the highest in terms of distance covered, and he works hard in the gym.”
Wirtz clearly has to do more, running matches and being a game-changing figure more consistently for Liverpool, but once the wingers click more with him, he has the ability to create chances for fun.
If he is still struggling at the end of this season, more criticism will be justified, but after a tough first year for many reasons, now is the time to truly judge him.