Liverpool’s record signing, Florian Wirtz, has shared why his early days at Anfield have not gone as smoothly as many expected.
The 22-year-old German star arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for a massive £116 million fee, but he is still searching for his first goal or assist in the Premier League. With a price tag that big, fans are watching every touch.
Speaking to Sky Germany, Wirtz admitted that life in the Premier League has been a challenge. “I recently talked to the coach about it, and he suggested why I might not be able to get into the situations I normally get into,” he said.
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Florian Wirtz on conversation with Arne Slot
According to Wirtz, Arne Slot pointed to Liverpool’s intense pressing game. “He said it could be because we press a lot and I run a lot. For example, the running stats: I’m always at the top there because I try to push hard and do what the coach asks. I need a lot of strength and energy for that, so when I have the ball I might be lacking a little bit.”
Wirtz revealed that Slot is managing his workload carefully. “After the [Atletico Madrid] game, he told me I wouldn’t start [against Everton] because he wanted to control the load a bit and see which game I could play better in,” the midfielder explained.
“He decided on the Champions League game, that I would start there and then sit on the bench in the league. I fully understood that.”
The German playmaker also noted the difference between England and his time in the Bundesliga. “In Leverkusen I could sometimes, not rest, but jog back a bit,” he said. “Here, I can’t afford to rest, and so I have to take every possible route.”
Despite the slow start, Wirtz remains confident. “Of course I would have liked to have scored a goal,” he admitted. “But no matter what anyone says, I’m staying cool. I know what I’m capable of, and I also know that I’ll really bring it to the pitch at some point.”
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