Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has mounted a spirited defence of Florian Wirtz, suggesting that the midfielder’s Liverpool team-mates bear significant responsibility for his difficult start at Anfield since his record-breaking summer transfer. The 22-year-old German international has failed to register a single goal or assist in 11 Premier League appearances, despite arriving on Merseyside for a then-club record fee of £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen.
Nagelsmann, who has awarded Wirtz 35 caps for the national team, used his pre-World Cup qualifier press conference to shift focus away from the struggling midfielder and towards the broader instability at Liverpool. His comments come in the wake of Liverpool’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad, where Wirtz bore the brunt of post-match criticism for another underwhelming display.
The Germany boss’s intervention represents a significant moment in the ongoing debate about Wirtz’s adaptation to English football, with the midfielder’s performances under intense scrutiny given his eye-watering transfer fee and previous excellence in the Bundesliga.
Nagelsmann Questions Liverpool’s Stability Under Slot
In what appeared to be a thinly-veiled criticism of Arne Slot’s management, Nagelsmann pointed to Liverpool’s declining standards compared to their title-winning campaign under previous management. “To be honest, the whole situation does not make it easy for him either,” Nagelsmann stated. “The whole club itself is not as stable this year as it was last year. It’s much harder to slip into the team now.”
The German tactician specifically referenced Liverpool’s poor performance against Manchester City as evidence of systemic issues beyond Wirtz’s control. “If you look vs City, they were the worse team over the 90 minutes. So it is also difficult for Flo to make any real big impact,” he explained, suggesting that the midfielder cannot be expected to shine in a struggling collective.
Nagelsmann’s comments will be viewed as particularly significant given his own standing in European football, and represent a rare instance of an international coach publicly questioning the environment at a major club. His assertion that Liverpool lack the stability of previous seasons adds another layer of pressure on Slot, whose side are enduring a difficult defence of their Premier League title.
Team-Mates Accused of Squandering Wirtz’s Creative Output
Perhaps most pointedly, Nagelsmann suggested that Liverpool’s attacking players have failed to convert the chances created by Wirtz, undermining his statistical output and adding to the perception that he is underperforming. “Maybe Liverpool could also help him out by scoring some of the chances he creates,” the Germany coach said. “That would be one idea, because he does create a few chances. It is just that they somehow do not like to shoot the ball in, from those chances. That is part of the truth.”
This argument challenges the narrative that Wirtz has been entirely ineffective, instead proposing that his contribution is being masked by poor finishing from team-mates. Nagelsmann’s comments suggest the midfielder is fulfilling his creative duties but receiving little support in terms of end product, making his statistics appear worse than his performances merit.
The Germany boss also called for patience, noting that adaptation periods are normal for players moving to the Premier League. “Ultimately, the overall situation is such that he just needs a little more time – which is normal and you see that with other players, who move to the English Premier League as well,” Nagelsmann argued, emphasizing that Wirtz should not be judged too harshly during his settling-in period.
Neville and Sneijder Lead Chorus of Critics
Not everyone shares Nagelsmann’s sympathetic view, with prominent voices in English football expressing serious concerns about Wirtz’s physicality and adaptation. Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville delivered a scathing assessment following the Manchester City defeat, describing the midfielder’s performance as a “really bad day” and warning that patience is wearing thin.
“We’ve been tip-toeing around him haven’t we, for a few months, around the fact that he’s young, coming to a new country. But he’s £120million, you’re going to have to stand up soon,” Neville said on his podcast. “He’s been mauled out there today by [Matheus] Nunes and by others. He’s been chucked around the pitch and didn’t deliver in the quality side of things either. His performance was a real worry.”
Former Netherlands international Wesley Sneijder has gone further, warning that Wirtz will be “finished” at Liverpool unless he adapts more quickly to the physical demands of English football. The mounting criticism from respected figures in the game underscores the growing concern that Liverpool’s record signing may prove to be one of the most expensive misjudgements in Premier League history.
Family Circle Remains Confident in Long-Term Project
Despite the mounting external pressure, Wirtz’s inner circle remains steadfast in their belief that the adjustment period was always anticipated and that panic is premature. The player’s father spoke to German publication Bild, revealing that the family had always planned to assess progress after the first ten league games and expressing satisfaction with how events have unfolded.
“My thought from the very beginning was to wait and see how the first ten league games went,” Wirtz’s father explained. “We and Florian are perfectly happy with that. The incredible speed, the back and forth, that was very impressive for the first few games. The distances covered and the speed were significantly greater. The style of play is sometimes enormously different because it doesn’t seem as organised, but rather more focused on pace.”
This measured response from the Wirtz family suggests they view the challenges as part of a natural acclimatization process rather than evidence of a fundamental problem. However, with Liverpool’s form deteriorating and scrutiny intensifying, both club and player face mounting pressure to demonstrate that their substantial investment will eventually bear fruit. The coming weeks will prove crucial in determining whether Nagelsmann’s calls for patience are justified or whether critics like Neville and Sneijder have correctly identified a problematic transfer that may haunt Liverpool for years to come.
