5 hours ago
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Xabi Alonso insists he has complete faith that Florian Wirtz will come good at Liverpool, revealing the Germany international's contributions at Bayer Leverkusen were instrumental in his own journey to Real Madrid.
Both Alonso and Wirtz departed Leverkusen during the summer transfer window, with the manager taking over from Carlo Ancelotti in the Spanish capital whilst the Premier League champions secured the attacking midfielder's signature.
Wirtz has struggled to make his mark in English football thus far, failing to register a single goal or assist in league competition. Nevertheless, Alonso maintains the 22 year old possesses exceptional talent that will eventually shine through at Anfield, having also made a Trent Alexander-Arnold admission in his press conference.
"Yes, for sure," Alonso said. "I have no doubts. It is just a matter of time. For sure it is a big change for him to come to Liverpool after so many years in Germany, he's been there all his life. And a few years in Leverkusen.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
"He needs to adapt but he is a really special player. He has quality and personality and he's competitive, so when he makes that trick, it has happened with great players in the Premier League before and I've no doubts with Flo.
"He is very special and probably one of the reasons I'm here now, is because of Flo, so I'm very grateful to Flo. Hopefully not tomorrow but I've no doubt he will show his quality and class."
Alonso returns to Merseyside with Trent Alexander-Arnold as part of his Real Madrid squad and a hostile atmosphere is anticipated for the former Liverpool defender following the acrimonious nature of his June transfer to the Spanish capital.
Alonso, who claimed the 2005 Champions League at Anfield, reveals he has not discussed with Alexander-Arnold the kind of reception that is likely to greet him on his first appearance at his former club since the summer departure.
Alonso continued: "We haven't spoken about [the emotion of the return], but we have spoken about the team, the club. He has to have his own feelings and enjoy it his own way. So I am not going to say how he needs to feel it.
"For sure his history is different from mine, he was born and bred in Liverpool, I remember him from a young age in the academy and then coming to the first team and winning the Champions League. So he needs to enjoy that moment because it is nice to be back and for him it is nice.
"He is good. He didn't play (at the weekend) because of the context of the game but he is available for any number of minutes. Tomorrow he may play and after the injury he had we need his qualities; he has great qualities.
"He is in a new stage for him both sporting, physically and mentally. We need to give him what he needs because he is an exceptional player that we have in our squad."
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