Florian Wirtz says he is ready to embrace the demands of Andoni Iraola, insisting he can now become one of Liverpool's leaders. The 23-year-old attacker also says the club should not entertain talk of a transition season under their new head coach as the £116m playmaker targets silverware at Anfield.
Wirtz's journey at Anfield
Wirtz became the most expensive signing in Anfield history when he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in June of last year, only to see the title taken by Alexander Isak, who joined from Newcastle United in a £125m deal on September 1. Much is now expected of the big-money duo this term following the departure of Mohamed Salah.
Wirtz has come in for scrutiny at times during his time at the club, particularly during the opening few months, when he looked overawed by the power and pace of Premier League football. The attacker admits he was very critical of his own performances last season but believes he can now take on the mantle at Liverpool ahead of Anfield's first Premier League fixture of the new term, against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Embracing responsibility
"I've always been very, very self-critical," Wirtz said in an interview with Sky Germany. "I think you need that to get to the top, to get to the top of the world. That was always my goal and that's why you always have to be honest with yourself and also be critical and look at what you haven't done well and what you need to improve. That's why I'm always honest with myself."
"Of course, you don't have to spend several days or weeks on anything, but it goes on every day and that's why you have to manage to quickly get your head back up and believe in yourself again and just get the best out of yourself. Of course, I like to take responsibility. I may not always be the loudest on the pitch or in the dressing room," he added.
"Nevertheless, I try to lead the way with the way I play football and the way I stand on the pitch and simply help my team-mates. Of course, we have enough players who go along with it, but I've been here for a year now and I already know my way around the club better. That's why I think I can definitely lead the way and help put the club back in the position where it belongs."
Development and title ambitions
Wirtz said he has developed in almost every area. "As far as my physical level is concerned, definitely. I also have to go to my limits every day in training, because there are simply players here who are also in full force in training every day and have such quality," he said. "You have to be at a good level yourself. It just makes you better when you train with top players every day and then, when the season really starts, you play at the highest level every three days."
"Then you have almost no other chance than to get better. That's why I think I've definitely developed playfully and physically. Of course, it was also the first time I got out of my feel-good circle at home, in another country, in another culture, and that's why it definitely shaped me last year, especially because it wasn't always easy, because of course it didn't always go the way you hoped. But I took a lot of positives with me and definitely grew from it."
After slipping to fifth on the back of a title-winning campaign in 2025, the debate has raged around what success looks like for Iraola in his maiden year, but Wirtz is adamant that a club the size of Liverpool should always be aiming to win the championship. "It's very simple. I think that's why I came here, because I want to achieve something with the club. Liverpool has always won titles or at least played for titles. And yes, we want to get back there and I want to make my contribution to that," he said.
Adapting to Iraola's system
Wirtz's second season at Anfield sees him learning a different system under head coach Iraola, who succeeded Arne Slot in early June after signing a two-year deal. Iraola revealed on the club's pre-season tour of the United States that he sees Germany star Wirtz as his 'No.10' and has tasked him with being the creative fulcrum of the side for the campaign ahead.
Wirtz said: "He (Iraola) just wants to play power football going forward. Lots of pressing. The tasks you have are actually relatively clear. Of course, we now have to work on making it work as a team. So not only that everyone does their job well, but that it also harmonizes together. But he definitely makes a very good impression on me."
"I think that he reaches a lot of players with it and that we as a team also understand what he wants from us. I think it's definitely a good start, that the players believe in it, and I hope that it will be successful," he added.
