Klopp defends Wirtz and promises careful handling
National team coach Jürgen Klopp vigorously defended Florian Wirtz after a difficult period at Liverpool and announced that he will look after him carefully. The German emphasized that, despite his current form, Wirtz should not be rushed into the starting eleven.
Wirtz's Path to the National Team
Originally, Wirtz was only nominated for the second squad for the Nations League matches against Serbia (home) and Greece (away). Because Jamal Musiala's muscle fiber tear during warm‑up before the duel with the Netherlands, Klopp brought him into the first team early. Thus the young attacking player received the chance to prove himself on the international stage.
At the press conference on Saturday, Klopp was asked whether Wirtz could start directly for the home match against Greece on Sunday in Augsburg. He laughed loudly and replied: "That would really be a mistake. He found out about it yesterday morning, arrived here yesterday evening and then we say: Now that you're already there, just start straight away. That would certainly be the most wrong thing we could do."
Liverpool in a New Chapter
Wirtz moved in the summer of 2025 for €125 million from Bayer Leverkusen to Klopp's former club FC Liverpool. His first season was mixed, and afterwards he played a weak World Cup with the German national team. Currently he is deployed in Liverpool's attacking midfield, but continues to search for his top form.
Klopp emphasized that it makes "no sense at all" to talk publicly about Wirtz's situation at Liverpool, because that would lead to exaggerated headlines. "Whether positive or negative, that would be a huge mistake in this case," he explained, referring to the special circumstance as a former manager of the Reds.
Liverpool problems: Klopp's comments on Wirtz and DFB selection chance
"Flo Wirtz's footballing abilities are beyond any doubt," Klopp continued. "How we work together to get him back on the pitch in a three‑day rhythm will be decisive. I generally think he is on a very good path."
According to Klopp, Wirtz arrived at Liverpool at the most unfavorable moment – not because the club had become champion the previous year, but because of the tragic death of Diogo Jota and a squad with many players for whom football was not the priority at the time. "Finding the right path for him is impossible when everything is demanded of him immediately," he added.
After a title‑less season, Liverpool part ways with Arne Slot in the summer; Andoni Iraola took over as head coach. After five games, the club sits in the Premier League with nine points in sixth place. The opening victories include a League Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur and a Champions League success against Atletico Madrid.
Wirtz started in six of the seven league matches so far and recorded an assist. According to Klopp he is "physically in a very good condition", but Liverpool must "find itself again", because attacking players always need a functioning environment. "If you're always in the spotlight, it's not easy," he noted.
In conclusion, Klopp stressed that there is nothing more that can be done than to integrate Wirtz into the squad with sufficient training time, to give him confidence and a good feeling step by step, and ideally provide him with successful experiences before he returns to Liverpool.