Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has come to the defense of Florian Wirtz, the 22-year-old midfielder who has had a slow start with Liverpool since his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen in June. Despite not yet registering a goal or assist in England's top flight, Nagelsmann argues that it is not Wirtz's fault and that he just needs time to adjust to the Premier League.
Nagelsmann believes that Wirtz’s slow start is due to him adjusting to life in a different league. The transition from Bundesliga, Germany’s top football league where Bayer Leverkusen competes, to England’s Premier League can be challenging for any player. The style of play, pace of the game, and even cultural differences can all contribute towards this adjustment period.
Germany manager, Julian Nagelsmann, said:
"Even though he hasn't scored any goals, he is still the player who creates the most chances in the Premier League," he told Sport 1 after Germany's 4-0 home win over Luxembourg on Friday. It's not his fault if his team-mates don't convert them, and the statistics don't even tell the whole story.
"Wirtz needs to get used to the league. I saw him playing with total freedom. He knows what he's capable of and how things work. He hasn't always had it easy – he'll have to work hard now too."
Despite his lack of goals or assists so far this season, there are still positive signs for Wirtz at Liverpool. According to Opta statistics, no player has created more chances than Wirtz (21) in the Premier League matches so far this season. This suggests that while he may not be directly contributing through goals or assists yet, he is still having an impact on games by creating opportunities for others.
Patience is key
It's important for sports fans and sports betting fans alike to remember that patience is key when it comes to new signings adapting their game into new leagues and teams. While immediate success would be ideal after such a high-profile transfer like Wirtz's move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool; it isn't always realistic given all the variables involved.
While Florian Wirtz may have had a slower start than expected at Liverpool following his big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen; Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann believes it's just a matter of time before he finds his form. With the impressive number of chances created by Wirtz so far, it seems likely that once he fully adjusts to the Premier League, his impact will be even more significant.
