Nagelsmann and Klopp have backed Florian Wirtz to rediscover his form at Liverpool, saying his struggles are not solely his fault.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has defended Florian Wirtz amid criticism of his underwhelming start at Liverpool, insisting the midfielder’s struggles are not entirely his fault.
Liverpool signed Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a club-record deal worth up to £116 million, but the 22-year-old is yet to score or assist in nine appearances for Arne Slot’s side. Nagelsmann, however, praised his creativity, saying the statistics don’t reflect his full impact.
“Even though he hasn’t scored any goals, he is still the player who creates the most chances in the Premier League,” Nagelsmann told Sport 1 after Germany’s 4–0 win over Luxembourg. “It’s not his fault if his team-mates don’t convert them.”
He added that Wirtz simply needs time to adjust to the Premier League’s intensity, saying, “He knows what he’s capable of and how things work. He hasn’t always had it easy — he’ll have to work hard now too.”
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also called for patience, describing Wirtz as a “once-in-a-century talent” and dismissing public criticism as exaggerated.
“Liverpool just lost three games in a row, which is unusual. But that’s also normal in life,” Klopp said. “At some point he’ll show his quality again, just as he did at Leverkusen.”