Nagelsmann Backs Wirtz Amid Slow Start at Liverpool
Germany’s national coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has come to the defense of Florian Wirtz, who is facing a challenging start at Liverpool. The young midfielder, who holds the record for the most expensive signing in the club’s history, is yet to make an impact, failing to score or assist in his first seven Premier League matches since transferring from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £100 million, with potential performance bonuses adding another £16 million.
Wirtz arrived at Liverpool with an impressive background, boasting 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 Bundesliga matches. However, his transition to the Premier League has been less smooth than expected.
Nagelsmann addressed Wirtz’s current struggles, pointing out that it’s not unusual for a young player to take time to adjust to a new league. He noted that Wirtz has actually created more chances than any other player in the Premier League, even if his teammates haven’t turned those opportunities into goals yet.
“Even if he hasn’t scored, he’s still creating the most chances in the league,” said Nagelsmann. “It’s not his fault if others can’t finish, and the stats don’t tell the whole story.”
Despite Wirtz’s past success at Leverkusen, adapting to life in the Premier League hasn’t been easy for him. Liverpool has also faced its own struggles, with other key players like Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah not performing consistently.
Nagelsmann emphasized that getting used to the Premier League takes time, urging fans to be patient with Wirtz. “He needs to adjust to the league. I’ve seen him play freely before; he knows his abilities. It hasn’t been easy for him so far, but hard work will help.”
Wirtz and the Liverpool squad are set to face Manchester United on October 19.
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