Two Football Legends Rally Behind Florian Wirtz Amid Growing Pressure to Bench Liverpool Star
Florian Wirtz has received support from Sir Kenny Dalglish and Rudi Völler to push through his challenging start at Liverpool, with both emphasizing that the summer signing simply requires patience after former Reds defender Jamie Carragher proposed he should be benched.
Wirtz has failed to find the net or provide an assist for Liverpool in eight Premier League and Champions League outings, drawing criticism following what was then a British record deal valued at up to £116 million ($156.3 million) from Bayer Leverkusen.
The German midfielder started the campaign as Liverpool's number 10, before being dropped for the Merseyside clash with Everton. He made his return on the left flank against Crystal Palace in the following fixture, but was moved back to his central position for Tuesday's loss to Galatasaray.
Carragher contended that Wirtz represents a clear problem when it comes to achieving team balance, particularly now that Liverpool have suffered consecutive defeats.
"He has considerable time ahead as a Liverpool player, but at this moment I believe he should be taken out of the lineup," the former defender stated, "…[for] Liverpool to return to their form from last season and rebuild from there, establishing confidence and defensive stability. Currently, it's chaotic."
'That Wee Fella Could Open a Can of Soup'
Liverpool legend Dalglish maintains complete confidence in Wirtz's ability to succeed at Anfield, encouraging him to avoid overcomplicating matters as expectations mount.
"The primary thing he must do is continue what he's currently doing," Dalglish, considered by many as Liverpool's finest player ever, commented on the Stick to Football podcast.
"He excels at receiving the ball to his feet, he'll create space for himself and the pass beats you while he maintains possession. Or he'll shift it back the opposite direction past you while you're moving the wrong way. He can assess what's ahead of him, and once he receives it..."
Since Wirtz's arrival and Liverpool's pursuit of Alexander Isak—the Swedish forward who eventually joined just under three months afterward—supporters were excited about the potential chemistry between the duo as a number 10 and number 9 combination.
"I observed Isak recently, in the second half when he entered [against Everton] I believe, and he's discussing movement with one of the players, explaining his approach. And [Wirtz] is paying attention to him and once they develop that understanding...
"Incidentally, that small guy [Wirtz], he could open a can of soup [with his foot]."
When questioned about his own playing relationship with legendary forward Ian Rush, which formed the backbone of Liverpool's achievements during the 1980s—especially in the decade's early years, Dalglish indicated it resulted from mutual understanding and consistent training sessions.
"It might happen immediately [for Wirtz and Isak]. With Rushy, it came from our training sessions," the Scottish icon responded. "We practiced it during training, so that's where you develop it initially, correct?"
'I Have No Concerns'
Hugo Ekitiké, another summer acquisition from the Bundesliga, has experienced a smoother adaptation than Wirtz—even his unnecessary dismissal against Southampton resulted from excessive celebration after netting a late winner. This stark comparison hasn't been favorable and social media sentiment has begun shifting against Wirtz among demanding supporters.
Völler, a distinguished international player himself and current sporting director of Germany's national squad, knows the 22-year-old intimately and remains confident he will silence his critics eventually.
"Florian shouldn't allow himself to be influenced [by public opinion]. I have no worries about that... he'll demonstrate to the English what he's capable of," Völler informed BILD.
"Florian is competing in a different league and at a new club. These are typical adaptation challenges. Nearly every professional experiences them. I have complete faith that with his pace and technical skills, he will achieve his breakthrough."