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Germany legend Rudi Voller has insisted that Florian Wirtz has already shown his true level "many times in the Premier League" with Liverpool, despite some recent criticism for the $157 million (£116 million) man.
Wirtz is yet to score or assist in the Premier League but has looked stronger in Europe under Arne Slot. And Voller says it is only a matter of time before people realize how talented he is.
"It's not unusual in England, where there are many experts who feel entitled to offer very direct criticism of players," Voller told Kolner Stadt Anzeiger, a news outlet based in Cologne, where Wirtz started out.
"But Florian doesn’t let it affect him — we’re seeing it here with the national team. He knows that assists or goals aren’t the only proof of quality in football.
"He will find his way at Liverpool. I have no doubt about that. Florian is a wonderful player, and people in England will soon see that too."
Germany faces Luxembourg on Friday hoping to take another step towards avoiding the need for a play-off to reach the World Cup in 2026. It is currently level with Slovakia on nine points from four games.
"I always speak to Flo, regardless of his situation," Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann said during his pre-match press conference. "It’s a very complex and difficult situation when you look at his club.
"Last year, they won the Premier League and played very attractive football. This year a few players left them, and they invested a lot of money on new players.
"So the entire mix is very complex — each of the five attacking players wants to be the 'star player'. This situation doesn’t make it easy for Flo because the entire club is not as stable as they were last season.
"I watched the game against Manchester City and they were the worst team over 90 minutes. It’s not easy for Flo to make his mark in such a situation.
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"We can see that a lot of players struggle when they move to another club where there have been many changes. In the end, I can’t influence his performances at Liverpool.
"I can only influence what he does here. I think he made steps in the right direction in October. We all know what he can do; it’s normal to have a dip in form. We’ll help and support him to keep a clear head."
Liverpool.com says: Wirtz has not fully settled in yet, but anyone who has seen him in the flesh can see what he offers. His ability level is extremely high and it is only a matter of time before it clicks.
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