Arne Slot defends Florian Wirtz after early criticism
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesLiverpool signed Florian Wirtz in June for a fixed fee of £100m, with the overall deal potentially rising to £116m if the add-ons are achieved.
Wirtz arrived at Liverpool off the back of two very impressive seasons with Bayer Leverkusen.
He had won back to back Bundesliga Player of the Season awards, and played a pivotal role in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten domestic double in 2023/24.
Since arriving at Anfield, Florian Wirtz has endured a mixed start to life.
Fleeting signs of brilliance are clear to see, but there is the decisiveness in key moments that is lacking at the minute, a trait many hoped would arrive immediately given the transfer fee to acquire him.
It is important to note however, that the Bundesliga plays its football at a slower tempo to the Premier League, and the 22-year-old midfielder is very much still adapting to a new league.
Arne Slot has come out and defended Florian Wirtz in his recent press conference, amid being asked questions about Liverpool’s transfer spending, and he said:
“There is so much focus on our signings, not least the pundits who maybe support their teams.”
“People can’t stop talking about £450m but they forget the £300m we have brought in for sales?
There is so much focus on Florian but the ones who were already here haven’t scored four goals or has twelve assists.”
“Florian has been part of a team that won at Newcastle and home to Arsenal which we didn’t do last season.”
“He is part of a team that is number one in the league at the moment.”
Florian Wirtz will be hoping to register his first goal contribution in Liverpool’s heavyweight clash against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this evening.
The German international registered double figures in goals and assists in each of his last two season, and I am sure he is eager to start adding to his career statistics for Liverpool.
Tonight would be the perfect time to start.
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