Klopp backs Wirtz and explains bench role against Greece | OneFootball

Jürgen Klopp has defended Florian Wirtz amid criticism of his Liverpool displays and confirmed the midfielder will start on the bench against Greece on Sunday. According to BuLi News, the Germany coach addressed the issue at a Saturday press conference ahead of the UEFA Nations League tie.

Klopp said Wirtz’s talent is not in doubt and that the 23-year-old is progressing, while suggesting some observers are impatient with the speed of his development.

Wirtz had been named in the second of Klopp’s two squads, but he linked up with the national team earlier than planned after injuries to Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz.

Klopp said throwing Wirtz straight into the starting lineup “would certainly be the worst thing we could do right now”, and that he plans to ease him in after sufficient training time.

The 59-year-old added that he wants Wirtz to grow into an important player for Germany in the years ahead, stressing the need for comfort and clarity in his role. “With us, hopefully, he can simply be Flo,” Klopp said of the former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker.

Source: BuLi News

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”