Arne Slot Fires Back After Arsene Wenger's Shocking Attack on Florian Wirtz
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has defended midfielder Florian Wirtz amid harsh criticism from Arsène Wenger, stating the player requires patience to reach his peak performance levels.
The Merseyside club shattered the British transfer record by acquiring Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million ($152.4 million)—a record they would subsequently break again with Alexander Isak's £125 million arrival from Newcastle United—but have had to exercise patience with the 22-year-old during what has clearly been a challenging beginning to his Anfield journey.
As Liverpool have faced difficulties as a collective, Wirtz has managed only three assists across 15 appearances in all competitions for his new club, having been utilized in various positions as Slot searches for his optimal role within the squad.
Wenger Claims Liverpool Have 'Ruined' Midfield Harmony
Criticism directed at Wirtz, along with Liverpool's overall transfer strategy, has been frequent this campaign, and legendary former Arsenal boss Wenger was particularly forthright in his recent evaluation of Wirtz and his influence on the team.
"Wirtz faced a choice between [Bayern] Munich and Liverpool," Wenger stated on beIN SPORTS. "He told Liverpool, 'I'll join you if I can play as a number 10—I refuse to play out wide.'
"To secure him, Liverpool agreed. So they dismantled their midfield, because their midfield consisted of [Ryan] Gravenberch, [Alexis] Mac Allister and [Dominik] Szoboszlai.
"To accommodate Wirtz, they removed Szoboszlai, and then what happened against Aston Villa? They reverted to their standard midfield from last season. And [against Real Madrid], they've reintroduced Wirtz but he'll feature on the flank. Because the manager has told [Wirtz], 'If you want playing time, you must play wide, as I don't want to disrupt the midfield.' That should be fascinating to observe."
Slot: Wirtz Requires Patience to Display Peak Performance
Wenger's remarks were presented to Slot before Sunday's crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City, and the Liverpool manager showed little interest in addressing such assertions.
"Everyone is entitled to their perspective," Slot replied.
"We possess five or six excellent midfielders who can all feature together but they require more time playing alongside each other to maximize every individual player's potential. Florian needs time to adjust to his teammates and teammates need time to adjust to him. Currently he featured on the left but I can assure you, if not immediately then soon, he will deliver outstanding performances as a midfielder for Liverpool too.
"He certainly possesses the ability for it, but it's not solely about one individual. It's also about the team environment you're operating within. What I can mention about Florian is that since Xabi Alonso arrived [at Bayer Leverkusen] he was primarily utilized in a 3-4-3 formation as an inverted winger, whereas previously he mainly operated as a 10. In the national setup he features as an inverted winger as well.
"For me the sole challenge I face is ensuring he reaches those areas, as an inverted winger or as a 10, in and around the penalty area where his teammates must locate him with proper timing, because then he will consistently create magical moments. He achieves this for the national team, he accomplished it for Leverkusen and he's already demonstrated that for us too."
Wirtz's Father Responds to Midfielder's Liverpool Beginning
Wirtz's choice to join Liverpool despite interest from clubs like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid has been scrutinized in retrospect, but the 22-year-old's father has maintained that neither he nor Wirtz harbor any worries.
"My approach from the outset was to observe how the initial 10 league matches unfolded," he shared with ZDF (via BILD). We and Florian are completely satisfied with that.
"The remarkable pace [of the Premier League], the constant action... That was very striking during the opening few matches. The ground covered and the tempo were considerably higher [than the Bundesliga]. But the playing style is sometimes vastly different because it appears less structured, but rather more emphasis on speed.
"It was thrilling for him to join a squad that had definitely developed and had brought in one or two additional players beyond himself. And all of them possessed corresponding quality. All of that was quite thrilling for him.
"I believe the league standings clearly demonstrate that there's still potential for growth in this football system. But the framework will resolve that. I hope he's talented enough that he can adjust to the requirements there and that he finds it as enjoyable as he did in the Bundesliga."