Arne Slot defends Florian Wirtz against Arsene Wenger’s criticism
Arne Slot has pushed back firmly against Arsene Wenger’s assertion that Liverpool’s midfield has been “destroyed” in order to accommodate Florian Wirtz, insisting the summer signing is progressing exactly as planned and will become increasingly influential as the season develops, reports BritPanorama.
Wenger, now a pundit for BeIN Sports following his long tenure at Arsenal, has not shied away from expressing bold opinions in recent years. His comments regarding Wirtz, who arrived on Merseyside for £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen, raised eyebrows, particularly as he suggested the 21-year-old had been led to believe he would play as a No 10 at Anfield. This implication purportedly influenced Wirtz’s choice of Liverpool over Manchester City or Bayern Munich, both of whom were keen to sign him.
The suggestion that Liverpool’s midfield structure has been compromised for a single player was likely to draw scrutiny. Slot, who has generally taken a calm approach to pundit commentary, revealed a hint of frustration in response. His defence of Wirtz was accompanied by an emphasis on patience and perspective, especially after the midfielder delivered a strong performance in Liverpool’s recent 1-0 victory against Real Madrid.
“Everyone has a right to his own opinion and many of them have,” Slot said, acknowledging Wenger without endorsing his views. “That is the nice thing about football, that everyone has his opinion about it. If I need open-heart surgery, I am not going to tell the surgeon what he needs to do, but about football, everyone is telling you what the best thing is to do.”
Behind the scenes, Liverpool has been investing significant time in Wirtz’s development. Observers of training sessions report that his touch and decision-making have repeatedly drawn compliments, although the intensity of Premier League matches has posed challenges in the early weeks. Slot maintains that the adaptation process is progressing naturally and effectively.
Slot’s strategy of using Wirtz on the left flank against Real Madrid may also be employed when Liverpool faces Manchester City next. This decision appeared to enhance the overall structure of the team and bolster the midfield cohesion, contrasting with earlier efforts that placed Wirtz in more central roles.
“I think we have five or six very good midfielders who can all play together but they need to play more together to get the best out of every single player,” Slot clarified. “Florian needs time to adapt to his teammates, and they need time to adapt to him. But he now played off the left. I can tell you if it is not this season it is the other season or if it is not now it is tomorrow, he will have great performances as a midfielder for Liverpool as well.”
“There has been a lot of focus on him individually and I’m more focused on team performance,” Slot added. Liverpool supporters have seen enough potential to justify the club’s substantial investment in Wirtz, and Slot is optimistic that their patience will bear fruit.
As Liverpool gears up for another intense encounter, the unfolding story of Wirtz serves as a potent reminder of the interplay between expectation and reality in football — a narrative that often leaves even the most astute pundits guessing.
