Fed up with Wirtz

Florian Wirtz has yet to show his worth at Liverpool.

The 0-3 loss to Manchester City in the 11th round of the Premier League on November 9 exposed all the limits of the 150 million euro contract. Anfield expected a creative leader, but received a player who was lost in Arne Slot's system.

Wirtz arrived in England amid cheers and huge expectations. In the summer, he turned down Pep Guardiola to join Liverpool. Man City pulled out because the total transfer fee could reach 300 million euros. Wirtz chose an environment where he believed he could shine. But football is always a tease. The first time he faced the team that wanted him, he almost disappeared.

Former MU defender, Gary Neville said bluntly on television: "He is the problem. On the pitch, Wirtz looks like a child, but he is worth more than 100 million pounds. It is unacceptable."

The remark was like a knife to the hearts of Liverpool fans, who had patiently waited for his first shining moment. After 11 Premier League games, Wirtz had yet to score or assist. The cold statistics reflected a painful truth: the squad’s biggest star was the one who contributed the least.

AS newspaper commented: “This is a familiar tragedy for flamboyant attacking midfielders. They shine in the environment built for them, but become lost when they move to a team that does not play that way.”

Wirtz was a centre-forward at Leverkusen, where he had the freedom to roam and a supporter like Grimaldo. At Liverpool, he has to play on the left, in a relentless pressing system. Space is scarce, time is scarce, and English football is not for daydreaming.

Opta data shows: Wirtz's 12 shots in the Premier League were all in vain. 16 chances created did not result in a goal. Those statistics made former player Wesley Sneijder exclaim: "Either he adapts quickly, or he is finished at Liverpool."

However, coach Arne Slot defended his player. He said that Wirtz needed time to adapt, and his teammates also needed time to understand him. Some players like Robertson or Chiesa still believed, but that belief was fading. Liverpool is a place where good players are forced to adapt, not wait for favors.

Fans were starting to lose patience. They were seeing not just a bad player, but a symbol of what was wrong with the transfer policy. When the goals didn't come, all the excuses were meaningless.

Florian Wirtz may still be a great talent, but at Anfield, that talent is stuck between theory and reality. If he doesn't find his feet soon, he will become the latest example of the harsh price of the Premier League: where beautiful dreams often crumble before they can bloom.

Source: https://znews.vn/ngan-ngam-voi-wirtz-post1601733.html