Shortly after taking charge of Liverpool in October 2015, Jurgen Klopp invited the team's players to a meeting in the media room at the club's training complex at Melwood. The German coach had noticed that the group of players he inherited from the era of Brendan Rodgers seemed burdened by tremendous pressure and with high expectations. The torrent of criticism and negativity surrounding the team had left a significant impact on them. Klopp told his players during the meeting: “The only criticism that really matters is my criticism.” According to my understanding of things, you are responsible for the victories, and I am responsible for the defeats.
As Klopp insisted, both publicly and behind closed doors, on praising the abilities of his players in a team that was then widely criticized, the atmosphere gradually began to change. Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino were among the most prominent examples of players who were freed from the restrictions that bound them, after both had previously seemed unable to express their full potential. In addition to his tactical prowess and intelligence in the transfer market, Klopp's famous player management abilities were an essential element in the successes he achieved during the nearly 9 years he spent as Liverpool coach at Anfield.
The man had an exceptional ability to find the right words at the right moment to instill confidence in his players. With the strength of his personality, he was able to push those around him to follow him and get the best out of them.
Klopp rarely signed a player who had already reached his final stage, but he succeeded in taking many to the elite level by helping them reach their full potential. In return, he was extremely loyal to those who gave him full commitment; Therefore, Liverpool now hopes that the “Klopp influence” will extend to Florian Wirtz during the current international break. The Germany national team player will get a chance to breathe this week, before meeting with his new coach in the national team in preparation for the two European Nations League matches against Serbia at home on October 1, then Greece away from home three days later.
Klopp, who succeeded Julian Nagelsmann after a disappointing World Cup campaign, which ended in a round-of-32 exit to Paraguay, had chosen a huge roster of 44 players, and allocated half of them for the first two matches against the Netherlands away from home on Thursday and Greece at home on Sunday. Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola told reporters before facing Bournemouth last weekend: “Jurgen did something that I think is very smart.” Two lists means he will be able to see more players, and it will also give some of them time to rest. Flo will have a few days of rest during the first part of the break, and this will be very good for the player and Liverpool, as well as for the German national team.”
A difficult start and more pressure
Certainly, a change in atmosphere could be beneficial for Wirtz, after his difficult start to the season continued during Sunday’s match at the Vitality Stadium. After being rested during the win over Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup in midweek, the player who joined from Bayer Leverkusen for 116 million pounds was supposed to return refreshed. But he wasted the ball a lot, and appeared clearly lacking in confidence, before Iraola brought on teenager Trey Nyony in his place midway through the second half. Wirtz has only one assist during the 6 matches he played with Liverpool in all competitions during the 2026-2027 season. The last time he scored a goal, whether for his club or his country, was Germany’s victory over Finland in May.
Liverpool legend and Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher gave a harsh assessment of Wirtz's performance on the south coast. Carragher said: “This was one of the worst performances I saw from him in a Liverpool shirt. I criticized him for not providing the required numbers, but usually when you watch Wirtz, you find him an elegant and organized player who keeps the ball, and there are things you like about his performance. He added: “The reason I am concerned is that I do not think Wirtz has gone through a period of decline in form since his arrival to Liverpool. I actually think what we're seeing is the reality of his level. We expected him to lead Liverpool to another league title and a new Champions League.” He continued: “The gap that he needs to fill in order to come close to justifying what people expected from him seems, in my opinion, to be very large. I don't think he can reach that level. Even if he improves a little, this will not be what Liverpool thought they had signed.”
He added: “I think that Iraola will have a decision to make in the future.” Wirtz will not be in my Liverpool squad. "It's not because I don't like Wirtz, I really hope this young man succeeds, but I just want Liverpool to win."
Wirtz divides Liverpool fans
Wirtz has become a divisive topic among Liverpool fans; Some believe that he is being unfairly criticized, while others view him as a weakness that lacks physical strength within the team’s offensive system. It can already be debated whether he deserves a place in the strongest lineup currently available to Liverpool, especially since Iraola can rely on Dominik Soboslai in the No. 10 playmaker position, with Nyony or Ryan Kravenberg included alongside the brilliant Alexis McAllister.
Carragher was not ignoring what Wirtz had already achieved during his career, whether by winning the German League with Bayer Leverkusen or reaching 45 international matches with Germany at the age of 23, but he was simply wondering whether his technical characteristics would one day allow him to reach the enormous ceiling of expectations surrounding him in the English Premier League. There is no doubt that the value of the huge deal, over which Wirtz had no control, affects the way his performance is judged. It also does not help that Rayan Sharqi, whom Liverpool considered signing from Lyon before purchasing Wirtz in June 2025, provided Manchester City with a much greater return during the same period, even though his cost did not exceed a third of the German player’s price. However, after Wirtz received, justifiably, some leniency during his first season with Liverpool amid a team that suffered a clear defect, it will be It is strange that confidence in him was lost so quickly at the beginning of Iraola's reign.
During his first season, Wirtz only scored 7 goals and assisted eight others in 49 matches in all competitions, 40 of which he started. Signs that the talent is still there should not be forgotten that Wirtz shined during the victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month, after he also played a prominent role in the two goals during the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League. Even against Bournemouth on Sunday, he created 3 chances, the most in the match with Alex Scott, the home team's player, and he also won six out of eight tackles he made, with a success rate of 75 percent.
Wirtz's move towards the near post was what occupied defender James Hill, and Cody Khakpo's cross passed and fell perfectly in front of Alexander Isak, who scored the winning goal after the break. “He started the match slowly, and I agree with that,” Iraola told Sky Sports when asked about Wirtz’s performance. They were playing with great intensity and we were not at the required level.” He added: “But after that first stage, I think we improved, and Florian helped us improve. In the second half, he played much better, and began to find better spaces to receive the ball and rotate in it. “I am much happier with his second half compared to the first.”
Getting the best out of the duo of Isak and Wirtz, who cost a total of 241 million pounds, was one of the biggest challenges facing Iraola when he succeeded Arne Sloat as Liverpool coach, and the task is still being developed.
Klopp... the man who knows how to protect his stars
As for Klopp, he is no stranger to helping big stars deal with constant scrutiny and unwanted criticism. There are similarities between what Wirtz is currently facing and the torrent of criticism that Trent Alexander-Arnold was subjected to during his career with Liverpool. Whether by confronting then-England coach Gareth Southgate over his player selection decisions, or attacking analysts for their constant criticism of Alexander-Arnold's defensive performance, Klopp never allowed his player to doubt that he was on his side. Alexander-Arnold told “The Athletic” network before Klopp’s farewell to “Anfield” in 2024: “Jurgen put his arm around me and took the pressure off me. Talk to me about how to control my emotions. He knew when I needed a scolding, and when I needed a little love.” He added: “He helped me move from a young player making his way into the team to a leader. I owe him a lot. He helped us all grow into what we always dreamed of being.”
Klopp followed the same approach when he strongly defended Wirtz during a press conference last week. He was aware that the player, in addition to the division over his level on Merseyside, was subjected to severe criticism in his country for not providing more during the World Cup, despite his assisting 3 goals in the four matches that the German national team played. Klopp told reporters: “I think he is the player who has come the farthest distance with Liverpool this season, so the desire is definitely there.” He added: “We have to get away from the idea that we need to see exceptional moments from him. He is there to help us as a team. We have to make sure Flo feels comfortable with us. “When the team works well, every player shines as a result.” He continued: “You have to be satisfied with a match in which Flo gave everything, even if he did not score or make a goal.”
He also said: “We simply have to give this young man the feeling that what he did today was more than good enough. You helped us as a team, and we won 1-0 or 2-0. Then all the experts sit down to discuss why things haven't worked out for him so far. On the other hand, there are just as many reasons to say that he is performing quite well. Now we will take the next steps together.”
Crucial weeks await Liverpool
Liverpool face a pivotal three-week period following the end of the international break. The series begins by hosting Manchester City at Anfield on October 11, then facing Austrian club LASK away in the Champions League, before a difficult trip to face Brentford. After that, the team will host Villarreal and Brighton, then face Chelsea at Anfield in the League Cup, before welcoming Arsenal, the English Premier League champion, at home.
Iraola's team will become much more dangerous if Wirtz returns from his international mission more active and confident. Borrowing one of Klopp's most famous phrases when he was appointed Liverpool coach in 2015, Wirtz's mission now is to turn doubters into believers. Time is still on the German player's side, and he is in safe hands, given Klopp's distinguished record in creating the appropriate environment that allows talent to develop and flourish.
