Photo by Karl-Josef HILDENBRAND / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Karl-Josef HILDENBRAND / AFP via Getty Images
It has not taken long for Jurgen Klopp to begin getting the best out of Florian Wirtz.
With the £116m signing again failing to spark during the early part of his second season with Liverpool, Reds fans are looking to Klopp‘s appointment with the German national team as the last hope.
Things did not start in the best way for Klopp after Germany drew and lost their opening two matches under his command. However, things got back on track on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Serbia. Liverpool fans will have been delighted to see Wirtz claim the second goal of the game, and both the No. 7 and Klopp himself spoke after the game to reveal how they have begun to turn his form around.
Kevin Schade
Klopp tells Wirtz to get back to being himself
On paper, having Klopp looking after Wirtz during the international breaks really should help Liverpool. He and Andoni Iraola play similar styles of football, and if the former boss can get his confidence back up, that can only benefit the Reds as well.
The German media were certainly high on Wirtz after Thursday’s match, and he spoke to the press to explain why he felt he was able to deliver a better performance.
“Naturally the opponent gave us more space because they were a bit more disorganised, and perhaps they were looking for one or two more counter-attacks and then more space opens up and we used it well,” Wirtz said.
“I think the interaction all the way from the back all the way to the striker was just very good because everyone wanted the ball and that’s why every individual was able to show what they can do today.”
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Asked whether Klopp had done anything special to get him back in the mood, Wirtz shared that the 59-year-old had asked him to play like himself again, but kept some further advice close to his chest.
“Of course, he wants me to play the kind of football again that people are used to from me, and we definitely had one or two conversations,” he said. “He gave me a few things that I definitely will take with me and try to implement.”
On what he needs to play like this week in, week out, Wirtz gave a tongue in cheek answer: “Ideally lots of space in every game so I can do what I want!”
Klopp delighted by Wirtz performance
Klopp has spoken at length about Wirtz during his early weeks as national team manager, and naturally he was asked to give his verdict on what was a much better display from him against Serbia.
“Every good or very good game is important for a player and it’s important to us as well,” he said during his post-match press conference.
“We’re actually playing again on Sunday and that’s important for a club where you play because the player is in good form. It’s not about Liverpool are in bad form and therefore Flo’s idea won’t work or anything like that. Everything is fine, but I don’t know how much Flo would have to do right for everyone to eventually be happy.
“I think everyone in Liverpool is very, very happy with the performance today,” Klopp added. “I don’t think so many English people and Liverpool fans have ever watched a German national team player and they will have had great fun. They saw a boy who was bursting with enthusiasm for playing, which is important, and who worked incredibly hard. He was sent out alone to put pressure on the goalkeeper, he did that every time. That’s exceptionally good, so he’s in top shape – at least that’s what I heard, I hope nothing happened during the game, I didn’t see anything.
“He played a great game, just like everyone else and that obviously helps everyone.”
Klopp was unhappy with the suggestion that Wirtz only thrived when given the platform to play by Bayern midfield duo Tom Bischof and Aleksandr Pavlovic, however, and insisted that the Liverpool star can play with anyone.
“It’s such a lovely evening, and we’re doing it without even mentioning it, do you want to bring up a topic which isn’t really a topic?” he bristled. “Flo Wirtz doesn’t need specific players to play with him, he needs to play in a way that suits him. The way we play suits Flo Wirtz. That he can only play with Pavlovic, I know that wasn’t the question… In the end it will be a Josh Kimmich story. Bischof Wirtz worked out great.”
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images