Nick Woltemade steps in to defend Florian Wirtz again

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Nick Woltemade has publicly defended Florian Wirtz amid growing criticism regarding Wirtz's performances since his high-profile transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool last summer. While Wirtz has yet to record a goal or assist in the Premier League, Woltemade, who made a comparable move from VfB Stuttgart to Newcastle United, believes the criticism directed at Wirtz is unwarranted and emphasizes the challenges players face when adjusting to a new league.

Woltemade highlighted that although Wirtz's statistics do not yet show goals or assists, his involvement in matches is substantial. He noted, "On paper, you might not see the goals, but if you compare my games with his, he’s much more involved in play." He stressed Wirtz’s high activity in matches, frequent ball touches, and positive contributions, contrasting this with his own scoring record where he has netted four league goals for Newcastle this season. Woltemade's perspective suggests that Wirtz’s impact cannot be measured solely by basic statistics.

Reflecting on his personal journey over the past 18 months, Woltemade underscored the whirlwind nature of his career progression. He has experienced notable achievements such as winning the DFB-Pokal with Stuttgart, reaching the U21 European Championship final, scoring his first senior national team goal, and securing a Premier League move. "It’s been a very crazy year. I’ve experienced so much – moments I never could have imagined before," he said, expressing gratitude and determination to continue working hard.

Woltemade’s defense of Wirtz portrays the difficulties players can face adapting to new environments and suggests patience is needed to allow talents like Wirtz to fully demonstrate their abilities at Liverpool.