From doubt to certainty: Wirtz is now the protagonist
The adaptation to the Premier League was not instantaneous for Florian Wirtz. The German midfielder needed time, but now he is on. A streak of six goals in ten games has silenced all criticism.
The pressure was enormous since his record signing last summer. 156 million dollars is a heavy figure, and more so in a club like Liverpool. Expectations ask for immediate success, something that did not come at first.
“If I’m totally honest, in my experience… the big foreign signings… all got off to a good start,”
Jamie Carragher said in October.
The club icon expressed out loud what many thought. Wirtz did not score in his first 21 games. In a team that was losing pace in its title defense, its lack of impact was noticeable.
But football has these twists. The first goal came at the end of December and it was like opening a floodgate. He doesn’t just score; Now he is the driver of the attack, with assists and a clarity that he did not show before.
The key was patience. Changes in the lineup, new life in another country… these are factors that we often underestimate. The talent was there, it just needed to find its space.
The curious thing is that the same Carragher who doubted now makes the most flattering comparison:
“The Premier lost Kevin De Bruyne. We have gained Florian Wirtz”,
the commentator stated this week.
Forget the teams and talk about special players. That phrase says it all about the level that the German is reaching.
Their litmus test will be this Sunday against Manchester City at Anfield. He arrives at his best, although perhaps too late to save this season for the Reds.
But the important thing is the future. Wirtz is no longer an expensive promise; He is a decisive player who gives another dimension to Liverpool. The lesson is clear: sometimes, you have to give time to time.
