Germany Chief Rallies Behind Struggling Liverpool Star
Germany's sporting director Rudi Voller has publicly defended Florian Wirtz following the midfielder's challenging beginning to his Liverpool career. The 22-year-old completed a £116 million summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen but has yet to score for his new club.
Statistics Tell Concerning Story
Wirtz has made 16 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions since his arrival, managing just three assists during this period. Two of those assists came during Liverpool's 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt last month, while his other contribution came in the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.
Notably, the German international has yet to register an assist in Premier League competition, with Liverpool currently sitting eighth in the table after their recent 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Voller Hits Back at Critics
With Wirtz currently on international duty for Germany's World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia, Voller used the opportunity to address the criticism directed at the young player. Jamie Carragher has been among the most vocal pundits questioning Wirtz's early performances.
"That's not unusual in England, where there are many experts who feel entitled to offer very sharp criticism of players," Voller told Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger. "That's part of the game, too."
The Germany director emphasized that Wirtz remains unaffected by the external noise: "But Florian doesn't let it get to him - we're seeing that right now with the national team - because he knows that assists and goals aren't the only indicators of quality in football."
Broader Perspective on Wirtz's Contribution
Voller argued that people are currently underestimating Wirtz's influence on Liverpool's overall gameplay. "He's proven his running and playing abilities many times in the Premier League as well," Voller stated, defending the midfielder's broader contributions beyond mere statistics.
The Germany sporting director also pointed out that Liverpool's general performance issues shouldn't be attributed to a single player. "People are currently underestimating Florian's influence on Liverpool's game, which, in general, isn't delivering what everyone expects from such a top team. But that's definitely not down to one single player."
Confidence in Wirtz's Future
Despite the challenging start, Voller expressed absolute confidence in Wirtz's ability to succeed at Anfield. "Florian will make his way, I have absolutely no doubt about that," he asserted. "Florian is a wonderful player, and people in England will soon see that too."
This public vote of confidence aligns with reports from Sport Bild, which indicated that Wirtz is "not particularly bothered" by pundit criticism and remains focused on his development.
What Comes Next for Wirtz and Liverpool
Liverpool fans will hope Wirtz can translate his national team form back to club level when the Premier League resumes on 22 November with a home fixture against Nottingham Forest. The Reds currently trail leaders Arsenal by eight points but remain just one point behind fourth-placed Sunderland, making Champions League qualification a realistic target for Arne Slot's side.
With the international break providing temporary respite from Premier League pressures, all eyes will be on whether Wirtz can begin to justify his substantial price tag and silence his critics in the coming weeks.
