Liverpool manager Arne Slot has dismissed claims made by former Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger that the club’s signing of Florian Wirtz has “destroyed” his team.
Wenger recently criticized Liverpool’s summer acquisition of the Bayer Leverkusen star, suggesting the transfer disrupted the Reds’ rhythm after they suffered six defeats in seven matches before bouncing back with victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s highly anticipated Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday, Slot defended both the player and the club’s decision, stressing that Wirtz only needs time to fully integrate into the squad.
“Everyone has a right to his own opinion, and many of them have,” the Dutch manager said.
“I think we have five or six very good midfielders who can all play together, but they need to play more together to get the best out of every single player.
“Florian, he needs time to adapt to his teammates; teammates need time to adapt to him. But he now played off the left.”
Slot emphasized that Wirtz, who joined Liverpool in a high-profile transfer deal, remains a long-term investment for the club and will continue to grow as he adjusts to life in the Premier League.
Liverpool will be hoping Wirtz can build on his recent improvement as the team seeks to regain momentum in both domestic and European competitions.
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