Germany's national team coach blames Liverpool for Wirtz's decline

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has publicly defended his player Florian Wirtz while directing criticism at Liverpool.

Joining Liverpool last summer for a record £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz was expected to become the “heart” of Arne Slot’s new tactical system. However, after 11 Premier League matches, the 22-year-old midfielder has yet to score or assist, a rather modest output given his enormous transfer fee.

In the 0-3 defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad, Wirtz faced harsh criticism for a lackluster performance, being tightly marked by Matheus Nunes and other Man City players. Commentator Gary Neville bluntly stated: “He looked like a lost boy on the pitch. For a £120 million price tag, Wirtz needs to prove his quality much sooner.”

In response to the criticism, coach Nagelsmann spoke up in defense of his prized player: “Honestly, the current situation at Liverpool is not easy for him. The team isn’t as stable as last season, making it tough for a newcomer to settle in.” He also hinted that Arne Slot’s system lacks cohesion: “Against Man City, Liverpool was the worse side throughout the 90 minutes, so it’s very hard for Flo to make an impact. He needs more time, which is completely normal for young players arriving in England.”

Nagelsmann tactfully sent a message to Liverpool’s players: “Flo has created many chances, but his teammates must capitalize better. They need to support him instead of expecting everything from a newcomer.”

Florian Wirtz’s father, Hans-Joachim Wirtz, agreed with Nagelsmann, saying the struggles were anticipated: “From the start, we knew the first 10 matches would be an adjustment period. Florian is still happy with his choice. The pace and intensity of the Premier League are truly different, but he will adapt.”

Looking ahead, Wirtz will have a chance to “release pressure” when he returns to serve the German national team in the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia. Afterwards, he will join Liverpool against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League and face West Ham in the Premier League, matches seen as opportunities for Wirtz to prove the true worth of one of The Reds’ most expensive signings.

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