Liverpool Manager Arne Slot Defends £116m Signing Florian Wirtz Amid Criticism
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has defended the club’s £116 million summer signing, Florian Wirtz, responding to claims from former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger that the German international’s arrival has negatively impacted Liverpool’s midfield.
Wenger recently suggested Wirtz’s transfer “destroyed” Liverpool’s previously successful midfield dynamic, but Slot dismissed the criticism, stating, “Everyone has a right to his own opinion and many of them have. If I need open-heart surgery, I am not going to tell the surgeon what he needs to do, but about football everyone is telling you what the best thing is to do.” Slot acknowledged Wirtz has been deployed on the left wing recently, including in Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid, but remains confident the 22-year-old will thrive in his preferred central role. This debate comes as Liverpool prepares for a crucial Premier League match against Manchester City.
Slot emphasized the need for adaptation, both for Wirtz integrating with his new teammates and vice versa. “Florian needs time to adapt to his team-mates, team-mates need time to adapt to him,” he said. “We have five or six very good midfielders who can all play together but they need to play more together to get the best out of every single player.” He also pointed to the success of players like David Silva and Bernardo Silva at Manchester City as evidence that smaller, technically gifted players can excel in the Premier League, referencing the Premier League’s official website for further information on player profiles. Slot also noted Wirtz’s previous role under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, where he was utilized as an inverted winger, and his similar positioning in the German national team.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s match against Manchester City, Slot sidestepped questions about whether the game is a “must-win,” stating that a fair assessment of the league table won’t be possible until after 19 games have been played. He also highlighted his admiration for City manager Pep Guardiola, acknowledging Guardiola’s influence on modern football tactics, including those of managers like Mikel Arteta and Vincent Kompany, as detailed in a recent Guardian analysis. Slot expects his team to build on their recent successes, including a 2-0 victory over City at the Etihad Stadium in February.
Slot stated he will continue to focus on team performance and ensuring Wirtz is positioned to utilize his strengths, adding that the team will continue to work on finding the player in dangerous areas.
