Arne Slot has rejected Arsène Wenger's idea that taking part in Florian Wirtz as a No 10 has “destroyed Liverpool's midfield” and insisted the £116m signing will show a particular expertise wherever he operates for the Premier League champions.
Wirtz impressed when taking part in off the left within the Champions League defeat of Actual Madrid on Tuesday, having beforehand struggled to make an influence in a central attacking function. The Germany worldwide's tough begin within the Premier League – the place he's but to attain or help earlier than Sunday's go to to Manchester Metropolis – prompted a withering evaluation by Wenger earlier than the go to of Actual.
Wenger claimed on beIN Sports activities: “When Wirtz had the selection between going to Bayern Munich or Liverpool, he stated to Liverpool: ‘I come to you if I play No 10. I don't wish to play extensive.' Liverpool, to get him, they are saying OK. They began him they usually destroyed their midfield, which was [Ryan] Gravenberch, [Alexis] Mac Allister, [Dominik] Szoboszlai. To play Wirtz, they took Szoboszlai out. What have they completed? They've gone again to their midfield of final yr.”
Wenger's final level is appropriate, with final season's title-winning midfield restored for victories over Aston Villa and the present leaders of La Liga. Liverpool's performances had been markedly improved they usually saved a clear sheet in each video games, after failing to maintain one within the earlier 10 matches. Slot, nonetheless, believes a greater understanding between teammates is essential to the general growth and never merely the place that Wirtz performs.
“Everybody has a proper to his personal opinion,” stated the Liverpool head coach on Wenger. “We now have 5 – 6 superb midfielders who can all play collectively however they should play extra collectively to get the very best out of each single participant. Florian wants time to adapt to his teammates and teammates want time to adapt to him. Now he performed off the left however I can let you know, if it's not now it's tomorrow, he can have nice performances as a midfielder for Liverpool as properly.”
Metropolis had been eager on signing Wirtz at the beginning of the summer time switch window however declare to have been delay by the monetary bundle concerned to deliver him from Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz's camp, in the meantime, steered he cooled on Metropolis owing to doubts over Pep Guardiola's long-term future on the membership. Slot, who hopes to have Alexander Isak accessible after virtually three weeks out with a groin drawback, insists Wirtz can develop into a dominant determine within the Premier League, as a No 10 or an inverted winger.
“He positively has the expertise for it, but it surely's not solely about one participant,” Slot added. “It's additionally in regards to the workforce you might be taking part in in. What I can say about Florian is that since Xabi Alonso got here in [at Leverkusen] he was primarily utilized in a 3-4-3 system as an inverted winger, the place earlier than that he primarily performed as a ten. Within the nationwide workforce he performs as an inverted winger as properly.
“For me the one problem I've is ensuring he will get in these positions, as an inverted winger or as a ten, in and across the 18-yard field the place his teammates want to search out him with the precise timing, as a result of then he'll all the time produce particular issues. He does this for the nationwide workforce, he did it for Leverkusen and he's already completed that for us as properly.”
Slot admits he has modified the Liverpool workforce greater than he would have wished this season and, unusually for him, turned agitated when explaining how accidents to Mac Allister, Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Isak gave him no various.
“There have been apparent explanation why we've needed to change greater than I would really like,” he stated. “Mac Allister for instance – for those who miss out on pre-season then you definately're not able to play three video games in seven days. When you do, you're going to get accidents.
“I can present a number of examples to you – Alex [Isak] is one, by the way in which. It's so apparent for me and I'm a bit like, you'll be able to possibly really feel it: ‘Jesus, why don't you see these items? Why are you speaking about me altering?' when it's so apparent why.
“I'm often known as being a supervisor who prefers to not change, however I couldn't do something completely different to what I did. Then, after all, we introduced new gamers in they usually must adapt. You already know what I wish to say now? I wish to discuss in regards to the final sport once I noticed a dive which 100% ought to have been a second yellow [for Vinícius Júnior]. I by no means hear about what number of referee selections have gone towards us within the final six or seven weeks.”
