Florian Wirtz’s first few months at Liverpool have been anything but smooth. The €125 million summer signing has yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League, leading to questions about whether the young German is struggling to adapt to English football.
But according to Germany’s sporting director Rudi Voller, patience is key. Speaking to Sky90, Voller defended the 22-year-old midfielder, suggesting that Wirtz’s slow start is more about adaptation than ability.
“I deliberately watched a few Liverpool games with him: He does an incredible amount, runs a lot, sprints a lot, and also drops deep. But he doesn’t get passed to the way he was used to in Leverkusen or the national team. You have to work on that over the course of weeks and months,” Voller explained.
The former Bayer Leverkusen chief knows Wirtz well from his Bundesliga days and remains convinced the playmaker will come good.
“He’s not one of those divas who stand still and hang their heads after missing three passes. Florian isn’t like that. He’s not only an exceptional footballer, but he also has a superb character. He’ll always give it his all from the first to the last minute.”
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What’s the 007 joke going around Florian Wirtz?
Liverpool’s recent struggles haven’t helped. The Reds have lost three straight matches across all competitions, with Wirtz starting on the bench in their defeat to Chelsea.
When introduced at halftime, he showed glimpses of his class — including a clever flick that nearly set up Mohamed Salah. But as fans joke about the “007” tag (seven appearances, zero goals, zero assists), Wirtz continues to focus on improvement.
Voller isn’t the only one backing him. German icons Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lothar Matthaus have also urged patience, reminding fans that transitions between leagues take time.
Schweinsteiger noted, “Especially when you move from the Bundesliga to the Premier League, you also have to adjust a bit. I’ve experienced that myself.”
It’s clear Wirtz has the support of his country — and the belief of his manager. Now, it’s just a matter of when the young German turns potential into Premier League production.
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Florian Wirtz Premier League stats so far
| Category | Statistic | Value |
|---|---|---|
| General | Appearances (Sub) | 7 (2) |
| Minutes Played | 486 | |
| Attack | Expected Goals (xG) | 1.03 |
| Expected Assists (xA) | 0.87 | |
| Shots on Target (Inside Box) | 4 | |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 26 | |
| Possession | Passes (Completed %) | 231 (80%) |
| Long Passes (Completed %) | 11 (55%) | |
| Corners Taken | 14 | |
| Physical | Dribbles (Completed %) | 13 (46%) |
| Duels Won | 20 | |
| Aerial Duels Won | 2 | |
| Defense | Total Tackles | 8 |
| Interceptions | 3 | |
| Discipline | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| Red Cards | 0 | |
| Fouls | 5 |