Nagelsmann Anticipates Wirtz’s Success at Liverpool
Germany’s head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has expressed confidence in Florian Wirtz’s potential to thrive at Liverpool following his high-profile transfer from Bayer Leverkusen this summer. The 21-year-old midfielder joined the Reds for a club-record fee of £116 million ($154 million).
Since arriving at Anfield, Wirtz has found it challenging to exert the same influence on games as he did during his time at Leverkusen, where he enjoyed a standout season under coach Xabi Alonso, leading the team to a Bundesliga championship without a loss.
Recently, Wirtz was benched by Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, during the team’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea before the international break. Despite this rocky start, Wirtz has remained a prominent member of Nagelsmann’s national team setup, highlighted by a remarkable free-kick goal in a match against Northern Ireland in September, followed by a full 90-minute performance in a 4-0 victory against Luxembourg.
Nagelsmann shared his thoughts with Sport 1, stating, “Despite not scoring yet, he generates the most chances in the Premier League. It’s not his fault if teammates fail to finish those opportunities. Statistics don’t capture the full picture.” He added, “Wirtz is adjusting to the league. I’ve seen him playing with great freedom, and while he’s faced challenges, he must continue to work hard.”
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp also defended Wirtz, noting that recent defeats for Liverpool – three in a row against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and Galatasaray – have heightened attention on the young player. Klopp remarked that Wirtz’s talent is extraordinary, suggesting that criticisms are somewhat overstated. “It’s uncommon for Liverpool to lose three games consecutively, but these situations prompt discussions,” he said. “[Wirtz] possesses once-in-a-century talent and will eventually showcase that consistently, just as he did at Leverkusen.”
As Liverpool prepares to face Manchester United this Sunday, Wirtz will be eager to demonstrate his abilities and validate the faith placed in him by both Nagelsmann and Klopp.
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