Florian Wirtz lifts lid on private Liverpool locker room talks without Arne Slot
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Florian Wirtz spoke candidly about the importance of the meetings held by the Liverpool players as the squad attempted to right the ship after a difficult start to the seasonLiverpool's Florian Wirtz takes part in a training session(Image: PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images)Florian Wirtz has shed light on the significance of private meetings held by the Liverpool squad that helped stabilize the season.The Reds suffered nine defeats in 12 matches from the end of September to November, before embarking on a streak that has seen them lose just three times in their last 23 games across all competitions.This run has positioned Arne Slot's team in the FA Cup quarter-finals, sixth place in the Premier League and in the Champions League last 16, which kicks off when they journey to face Galatasaray away for the first leg on Tuesday evening. Speaking on the Reds' Roundtable show via the club's official channels, Wirtz, alongside Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili, detailed how those internal discussions at the time aided in enhancing performances and results.READ MORE: Kylian Mbappe says no to Real Madrid offer after Trent Alexander-Arnold banREAD MORE: Galatasaray boss criticizes his players for focusing too much on Liverpool tie "There were a few meetings in the changing room with only us players," Wirtz reveals.
"We had a difficult start and this club and this team was not used to this, that we don't win almost every game, you know?"."And I think it was important to believe as a group, that we are making progress and it needs to get better."As a team, we want to give something back to the fans, but we are not in a position to say: 'We are winning this or that'. So we focus on the games, but we know that there's still something to play for."Most what I did was just to make myself strong in the head to bring myself to the best position to bring it on the pitch and that helped also.
It was really good to start scoring and from then on it was easier to find the goal more."I can't even explain why because in football I think it's a lot of momentum and when you score one time, then you can use it for yourself you know."Reflecting on his decision to relocate to Merseyside in June following the Reds' deal with Bayer Leverkusen, the Germany international adds: "For me it took a little bit longer [to decide] really because [I was] in my area with all my family and friends, so it was not an easy step.Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world."But Liverpool was the first club who approached me to speak and tried to convince me to join the club, so it [showed] 100% commitment and it felt 100% right."I have to say something about that because [the interest from Liverpool] started during the season, we were still in Leverkusen and from the day I had interest from Liverpool, I found out they were also interested in Jeremie."So we were sitting next to each other in the changing room and every day we spoke to each other, we were sitting next to each other and speaking every day how it is going and it can be so cool if we can come here together."For me, it was easy we had a lot of new players and I was with Giorgi for the first two weeks in the same hotel, so we would drive to training together."Of course, Jeremie, because I knew him from before but also the other players, they always tried to make me feel good."