Jurgen Klopp has set out a challenge for Florian Wirtz before naming his first Germany squad.
The former Liverpool coach missed out on Wirtz at Anfield, but will be coaching him with the national team.
However, Wirtz isn’t the player he was at Leverkusen, and is yet to justify his £105million price tag.
He was also particularly poor at the World Cup, and in Liverpool’s season-opening draw with Newcastle.
Klopp was present at the Bundesliga opener where Bayern beat Stuttgart 5-1, and was asked about Wirtz before the game.
Klopp sets out Wirtz conditions
Setting out his conditions for selection, he said: “I think they (Liverpool) will learn how to integrate him, and Flo just needs to play his game.
“That’s what it’s about. And I’d like to make that possible for him at some point.
“But anyone who wants to play for us has to be able to counter-press.
“I played with Shinji Kagawa in the number 10 position [at Dortmund]. He didn’t engage in a single tackle and yet he was one of the best counter-pressing players I’ve ever had.
“It’s not about physicality. It’s about wanting to contribute.”
He continued on Wirtz’s struggles: “In terms of footballing ability, Wirtz is beyond any doubt – in my opinion and in everyone else’s.
“But Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and so on – they are of course always the first to get nervous in England.
“I spoke with Flo. It was a pleasant conversation, not overly respectful, so I didn’t feel like I had to crack some nut.
“The problem in football – and this is the job of the manager – is integrating the talent or the players and placing them in the positions where they perform best.
“I think they absolutely understood that at Liverpool, at least, where he actually needs to play.
“He has to play in such a way that the coach doesn’t even consider taking him out in the end. That’s just the way it is. We can’t help him with that.”
Leave a Reply