Wirtz Defended: Klopp and Nagelsmann Back Liverpool’s German Talent

Nagelsmann and Klopp Defend Wirtz After a Complicated Start in the Premier League

German coach Julian Nagelsmann and former Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp have defended Florian Wirtz, following an irregular start to the season in the Premier League. Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, in a record transfer for the club of £116 million ($154 million). Since his arrival at Anfield, Wirtz has not managed to stand out in matches in the same way he did at Leverkusen, where he shone during an undefeated season in the Bundesliga under the direction of Xabi Alonso. The German midfielder was relegated to the bench by Arne Slot in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea before the international break.

Despite his complicated start at Anfield, Wirtz has remained a fixture in Nagelsmann’s German national team and scored an impressive free kick in the victory over Northern Ireland in September, as well as playing the full 90 minutes in the 4-0 victory over Luxembourg.

Even if he hasn’t scored goals, he’s still the player who creates the most chances in the Premier League.

Julian Nagelsmann

Nagelsmann told Sport 1: “It’s not his fault if his teammates don’t convert them, and the statistics don’t even tell the whole story.” “Wirtz needs to adapt to the league. I’ve seen him play with total freedom. He knows what he’s capable of and how things work.” “It hasn’t always been easy, now he will also have to work hard.” Klopp, who managed Liverpool between 2015 and 2024, also came out in defense of Wirtz. Liverpool arrived at the international break after three consecutive defeats, against Crystal Palace and Chelsea in the Premier League, and against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Klopp believes that it is those defeats that have amplified the scrutiny on Wirtz and that everything will be fine in the end.

Its quality is so exceptional that the discussions are a bit exaggerated.

Jürgen Klopp

“Liverpool has just lost three games in a row, which is unusual.” “But that’s also normal in life and that’s why these things are discussed.” “[Wirtz is] a unique talent, and at some point he will prove it again in every match, just as he did at Leverkusen.” Liverpool resumes Premier League action against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, in a match where Wirtz will be desperate to prove Nagelsmann and Klopp right and to light up the Premier League stage.