Jurgen Klopp has dismissed the noise surrounding Florian Wirtz’s slow start at Liverpool, insisting the concerns are massively exaggerated.
The German playmaker joined the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million in the summer but has yet to score in 10 appearances. After being dropped from Arne Slot’s starting XI for the Chelsea clash before the international break, questions were raised about his form and impact — with some, including Jamie Carragher, suggesting he has disrupted the team’s rhythm.
Klopp, however, isn’t buying into the criticism. “I’m not worried about Florian Wirtz because his quality is absolutely outstanding,” the former Liverpool boss told RTL and n-tv. “People are blowing this discussion way out of proportion.”
Now working as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer, Klopp described Wirtz as a “once-in-a-century talent” and urged supporters to relax. “If anyone’s worried — you can stop. He’ll show his ability again, just like he did at Leverkusen,” he added.
Klopp also pointed out that Liverpool’s current struggles are part of football’s natural cycle. “Losing three in a row is unusual for Liverpool, but these things happen. It’s life,” he said. “Public debates don’t matter — everything will turn out fine.”
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann also leapt to Wirtz’s defence, highlighting his creative spark despite not scoring. “He’s created the most chances in the Premier League,” Nagelsmann told Sport1. “He just needs time to adapt. He knows what he can do, and he’ll prove it soon.”
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