Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has offered some sage advice about Florian Wirths after analyzing the £116m playmaker’s performances for Germany at the World Cup.
Florian Wirtz plays a key role for Germany at the World Cup (Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Andoni Iraola should build a new Liverpool squad around Florian Wirths. Iraola is planning how things will go at Liverpool after taking over from Arne Slott and has taken some advice from the club’s former manager.
Wirtz has played the entirety of Germany’s two World Cup matches so far, contributing to victories over Curaçao and Ivory Coast. He has been handed the keys to the attack by Julian Nagelsmann, who has asked the 23-year-old to roam and create.
The playmaker, signed by Liverpool for £116m from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, provided an assist for Felix Nmeka’s opener in the 7-1 win over Curaçao, but is yet to really shine in the tournament. This came after he made 49 appearances in his debut season for Liverpool, scoring seven goals and providing 10 assists.
Klopp has never coached Wirtz, who joined him after leaving Anfield, but is clearly a big fan of the diminutive midfielder. He believes Wirtz needs to feel the trust of his coach and teammates in order to reach his full potential.
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“The important thing is to get him involved in the game. There were moments against Curacao when I thought I should have given him the ball,” Klopp said on Magenta TV, analyzing the 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
“Not because he was the best passing option, but because I want Flo Wirtz to feel good as a teammate. If I were (Nico) Schlotterbeck, I would give him the ball five times for no particular reason and see how he reacts.”
“If you really want Flo Wirtz to get into the rhythm, if you really want to liven up the field, give him the ball, because that’s when he feels completely at home. It’s important to get him involved because that’s when Flo can feel confident and comfortable on the pitch.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp shares his insight on Florian Wirtz (Image: Magenta TV)
“He shouldn’t go down and take the ball out of his own penalty area and we expect him to start playing. We have to find moments where we can exploit this position, because with his positioning it creates a lot of space for the players next to him, the full-backs and everyone who can run into that space.”
Denis Unduff was the star player against Ivory Coast, coming off the bench and scoring two goals as Germany came from behind to win. With the team now guaranteed a place in the World Cup finals, Nagelsmann may opt for a rotation for Thursday’s final Group E match against Ecuador.
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