Germany icon Thomas Muller has claimed Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz is benefiting from reduced scrutiny at Anfield compared to the intense pressure he would face at Bayern Munich. The Vancouver Whitecaps forward weighed in on Wirtz's challenging adaptation to English football following his £116 million summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.
Wirtz's Slow Start at Liverpool
The 22-year-old playmaker, who rejected interest from Bayern and Manchester City to join Liverpool, has yet to score in 22 appearances across all competitions. However, he showed signs of progress by registering his first Premier League assist in Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Tottenham last weekend, setting up Alexander Isak's opener before the Swedish striker suffered a fractured leg following a collision with Micky van de Ven.
Muller's Perspective on Bayern's Spotlight
In an interview with SZ, Muller contrasted the environments at Bayern and Liverpool: At Bayern, Flo would have had an easier tactical adaptation, but nowhere else are you under such microscopic attention as a national team player in Munich.
He added, If Wirtz were performing at this level for Bayern, the criticism would be far more severe. As a foreign player in England, the media focus isn't as relentless.
Slot Praises Wirtz's Development
Liverpool manager Arne Slot acknowledged Wirtz's gradual improvement: His technical quality was evident from day one, but he's now adapting to the Premier League's physical demands. Moments like his duel win against Brighton show his growing confidence.
Slot revealed the club has focused on building Wirtz's muscle mass and match sharpness through consistent game time.
Muller, who left Bayern this summer after winning 33 trophies in 17 seasons, remains one of Germany's most decorated players. Wirtz will aim to build on his recent contributions when Liverpool face Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend.
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