He sent one hell of a speech to Liverpool. The player knows what he wants, but can he deliver the Reds?
Florian Wirtz didn’t start his Liverpool career the way anyone expected. It’s pretty much undeniable at this stage and we’re still waiting for things to click with him.
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Because there can’t be much question that Wirtz is one of the most talented players around. We saw that one, who was the best in the Bundesliga over the past two years, albeit in his early 20s.
The reason is, however, that Liverpool made money. Wirtz is a Ballon d’Or-level talent and he offered a reminder of that against Serbia on Thursday evening. He scored one, and made the other by incredible skill and close control, so that he was defeated by persistent sportsmanship.
This was Liverpool’s goal, for sure, as Wirtz showed everyone how good he can be. But his comments about the match are the biggest sign of things changing at Anfield.
Florian speaks of Herbipolense
Wirtz spoke to ZDF in Germany and said that one of the most notable things is his relationship with new boss Jurgen Klopp. There is a lot of hope at Liverpool that Klopp can help get the most out of the game – and it sounds like things are going well.
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“He wants me to play football again,” Wirtz said, according to Bild. “I’m sure we had one or two conversations, and he gave me a few things that I’m sure I’ll take with me and try to implement. I’m glad that he’s talking to me.”
It’s an admission that Wirtz wasn’t the same player that stuck. He knows, Klopp knows, and we know Liverpool hope. Because so far they have not fully given what they have spared.
And it certainly seems that neither Wirtz nor Klopp feel this writer’s fault. The ex-Liverpool boss went straight to it and said he believes Wirtz can play at that level right away and his team has to do it.
We know because Wirtz himself told it post-match.
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“There was a lot of emotion in our game and everyone wanted to play football,” said Fabrizio Romano. “That it may shine more easily.”
Wirtz needs a move. This is exactly what the developer wants. He needs movement to find a pass and he needs movement to drop into empty spaces to attack the game. It’s also his game and putting him in a team where he can’t be funny from Liverpool.
The player created six chances on the night above his goal. Klopp knew it was going to happen and paid off immediately. Liverpool aren’t alone, forcing Wirtz to play in an incredibly static attacking side for over a year.
That has to change. Home teams make the best player around and he doesn’t fail; He is the most talented player at Liverpool. They just don’t want to build around it.
Now is the time to do so.