Florian Wirtz, a 22-year-old German footballer, has faced significant scrutiny since his summer transfer to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for a staggering £100 million. Even with all the expectations placed on him, Wirtz has continued to fail to make a mark in the Premier League. He’s still to register a goal or assist in his first 11 top-flight appearances. Former Man U player, Gary Neville has described him as a “problem” for the club’s future. This criticism follows a past game against Manchester City, where Wirtz’s performance was critically likened to that of a “little boy.”
Wirtz’s Expected Assists (xA) figure stands at 1.19, indicating that he is creating opportunities for his teammates. Liverpool’s inability to convert these chances has raised questions about his integration into the team. His recent performances have led observers, including Neville, to express concern about the young talent’s ability to adapt to the demands of English football.
Germany’s national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has publicly defended Wirtz, suggesting that the challenges he faces are compounded by broader issues within Liverpool’s squad under manager Arne Slot. In a recent interview, Nagelsmann emphasized that Wirtz needs time to adjust to the Premier League. He acknowledged that the state of play today creates unfavorable conditions for Wirtz to succeed.
Nagelsmann didn’t dispute the tough conditions. He made it clear that the entire environment, including COVID-19, wasn’t doing Flo any favors, counterpunching the criticism directed towards Wirtz. He focused on the fact that Liverpool’s overall woes would make it harder for someone as talented as Wirtz to sparkle.
In that vein, Nagelsmann fired back against Neville’s comments on Wirtz, who left many games looking overmatched. He raised alarm at the huge pressure on the 20-year-old because of his £100 million transfer fee. We can’t expect him to do it at that level for three years in a row. Instead, only a little support from all of us is needed to help him break free here and clear his head for good.”
Nagelsmann pointed out a specific issue with Liverpool’s gameplay: “They somehow don’t like to shoot the ball in. That’d be a good one to say, because he doesn’t make no chances he creates, it’s only that… If you believe that players just don’t like shooting the ball in, well, that’s also the truth.
Despite his slow start, Wirtz has shown flashes of his potential in European competitions, appearing more comfortable in the Champions League. Recently, Slot has restored him to his preferred left-wing position over the past two matches, which may help him regain his form.
While Neville recognized Wirtz’s technical expertise, he doubled down on the need for him to rise to the moment. “Let’s just call it as it is. It’s an issue. He’s currently worth more than £100 million. To be fair, only a matter of weeks ago I was lamenting the fact that Milos Kerkez basically played like a little boy at times. Today I felt Wirtz looked like a spoiled little boy. That can’t be the case,” he argued.
He continued by emphasizing that while Wirtz possesses undeniable talent, “He’s obviously got something, he’s a really good player, he’s technically fantastic,” his recent performances have raised concerns. “Wirtz looked like a little boy. His performance was a huge concern,” Neville ended.
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