Struggling Liverpool and Germany attacker Florian Wirtz has received support from two of his countrymen after a tricky start.
Wirtz has just a single goal in 13 games for club and country this season after a blockbuster £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield.
Pressure is cranking up on the attacker, but his former captain at international level, Ilkay Gundogan, thinks the stat memes are nonsense.
“I would like to see a little more depth in the analyses,” Gündogan told Bild. “The critics should not just look at the bare assists and goals.
“Anyone who doesn’t see Flo’s outstanding quality really doesn’t understand much about football. Calling him a transfer flop is completely exaggerated.”
He added: “No player or person in this world can completely block out so much noise, it always does something to you.
“Flo will deliver, if not in October, then from November onwards, he’ll get through this phase. I have no doubts, it is just a matter of time.”
Countryman Didi Hamann gave a similar take, but added that he was disappointed by Wirtz so far.
He then identified a key problem, saying: “He’s trying to force the whole thing in his direction, so to speak. Everything he has to do defensively, he does at full speed.
“I have the feeling that when he has the ball, he lacks the strength, calmness, and concentration he had in Leverkusen.
“He wants to prove himself, he wants to work hard for the team. But that’s not why they brought him in.
“His hard work naturally honours him, and that also earns him the respect of his teammates. But he was brought in to influence the game offensively. And that’s exactly what he’s not doing enough of at the moment.
“However, it’s fair to say: If he had Mo Salah, in his form of past years, as a passing option on the right wing, it would be easier for Wirtz, too. But Salah is finding it increasingly difficult to score goals from open play.
“I hope he doesn’t lose faith in himself. Self-doubt drives you, but it shouldn’t get to the point where he questions his own abilities.
“I still believe Wirtz is too good not to make it in the Premier League. But nothing is impossible in football. So he needs a quick taste of success to get rid of the burden and find a better balance in his game.”
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