Havertz defends Liverpool's Florian Wirtz in football against criticism

Kai Havertz gave Liverpool's Florian Wirtz, his teammate from the German national team, verbal support. “I know how the English press reports it from time to time,” Havertz told Sky.

“I think he is also playing very, very good football this season,” he added, referring to Wirtz, who has often been criticised since his €125 million move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool in the summer of 2025. “He is integrated into the game, creates chances for his teammates and is dangerous himself,” Havertz listed the qualities of the 23‑year‑old, who this season has, across competitions, contributed two goals and five assists for the Reds.

Performance and Criticism

“I have seen a lot of very good games from him over the past year and a half. For me, he is one of the best players I have ever played with,” said Havertz, who, like Wirtz, also has a Leverkusen background. The regular criticism of Wirtz can only be explained by Havertz in one way: “We live in a world where many, many people don’t even watch the games, but then go on the app and see: ‘No goal, no assist, so he must have played badly’,” he said.

He cannot at all understand the voices that have already urged Liverpool to let Wirtz go: “He will definitely follow his own path and become a huge player for Liverpool,” Havertz is convinced. Havertz himself has established himself at Arsenal as a key figure in attack; this season he has four goals and one assist in 15 league matches for England’s champions, who once again lead the Premier League table comfortably.