Nagelsmann backs Wirtz to shine after slow start

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed confidence in Florian Wirtz’s ability to overcome his challenging start at Liverpool, assuring reporters that the young playmaker would soon regain his top form. 

Nagelsmann acknowledged that, despite Wirtz not yet scoring a goal, he remained a key figure in creating opportunities for his teammates. 

Speaking at a presser, the manager told reporters that even though the player hadn’t scored a goal, he was the one creating chances. 

He stated that it wasn’t the player’s fault if his teammates failed to convert those chances, adding that the statistic represented less than a third of the truth.

He (Nagelsmann) further explained that the player simply needed to adapt to the league. He also mentioned having seen the player feel completely liberated, noting that the player was aware of his capabilities and how things worked.

Nagelsmann dismissed the significance of current statistics, suggesting they reflected only a fraction of Wirtz’s true potential, and stressed that the 22-year-old simply needed time to adjust to the demands of the Premier League.

Wirtz, who transferred to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for a reported £116m (€133.2m), made an early impact by assisting Hugo Ekitike’s goal in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace in August. 

However, he has since struggled, failing to register a goal or assist in the Premier League despite creating 11 chances, a tally surpassed only by James Ward-Prowse (12) among players without a goal involvement this season. 

These chances have amounted to 0.87 expected assists, with just one classified as a big chance, an opportunity where a goal would typically be expected. 

Wirtz has appeared in all seven of Liverpool’s league matches, starting five of them.

Nagelsmann, who also manages Wirtz at the international level, noted that he had observed the player displaying a sense of freedom on the pitch, fully aware of his capabilities and how to navigate his role. 

During Germany’s 4-0 victory over Luxembourg on Friday, Wirtz struck the post, and he is expected to feature again in their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland on Monday. 

Nagelsmann highlighted Wirtz’s resilience, stating that the midfielder had not always had things handed to him and would continue to work diligently to succeed.