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Julian Nagelsmann has backed Florian Wirtz in light of the criticism he has received in England.
| Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images |
Since his transfer to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, Florian Wirtz has encountered scrutiny in England for not living up to his €132 million valuation.
During a press conference on Monday, German coach Julian Nagelsmann addressed the 22-year-old’s performances in England and replied:
“He still requires a little more time. Ultimately, I can’t affect how he performs at Liverpool. In October, he made progress regarding his intensity on the field. It wasn’t as high in September.
“We all understand what he is capable of. We can’t expect him to maintain that high level consistently for three years. We all must support him collectively so he can clear his mind.”
Nagelsmann defended the German international, highlighting that the opportunities he generates are not being utilized and that the overall environment at Liverpool isn’t making it any easier for him.
“Someone could actually finish off the chances he creates at Liverpool from time to time. That would be a thought. He doesn’t create very few opportunities; it just seems like they take pleasure in missing them. That’s also part of the truth,” Nagelsmann emphasized.
“They were incredibly solid last year, playing very appealing football. Then some players departed, and they invested a considerable amount of money,” he continued.
“Each of the five forward players anticipates being the star. The overall situation doesn’t make it easy for Flo.”
