Former Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer has challenged new manager Andoni Iraola to build the team around Florian Wirtz, insisting the German playmaker must be played in his preferred position to justify his £116 million price tag.
Wirtz's Difficult Debut Season
Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen 12 months ago in a deal worth up to £116 million, but his first season at Anfield was inconsistent. The 22-year-old scored seven goals and provided eight assists across all competitions, struggling to adapt to the Premier League's pace and physicality under former manager Arne Slot, who was sacked at the end of May.
Smicer, who made 184 appearances for Liverpool and won the Champions League in 2005, believes Wirtz's best position is as a number 10, operating behind the striker with freedom. He warned that deploying him on the wing would diminish his effectiveness.
Building Around the Star
"I think the price tag and the transfer money from Leverkusen to Liverpool was big, and the pressure was on Wirtz with statistics about how much his goals and assists cost," Smicer told Casinostugan. "But a player like him will be under pressure all the time. You have to perform for Liverpool, and now for Germany. They will expect a lot from him."
The Czech legend compared Wirtz's situation to his time at Leverkusen, where the team was built around him. "At Leverkusen, the team was built for him and he was a free player with wingers on the side and a striker. In Liverpool, we were trying to find his best position all season. He was playing right, left, as a striker, and behind the striker," Smicer added.
"If you buy a player for 130 million euros, you need to put him in his favourite position and build the team around him. If you buy Wirtz and play him as a left-winger, you throw that money away."
Iraola's Challenge
Smicer expressed hope that Iraola, who replaced Slot, will identify Wirtz's optimal role. "I just hope Andoni Iraola will find his position. I think his best position is behind the striker. Give him the freedom and it should work. If not, it's going to be tough," he said.
The 2005 Champions League winner also noted that Wirtz enjoyed his time at Liverpool despite positional struggles. "I think he was enjoying playing for Liverpool, but of course when he was a left-winger he was just trying to do the job. You don't feel the same confidence or feeling when playing in a different position."
Wirtz is currently representing Germany at the World Cup, and Smicer believes the national team should also build around him. "Two years ago at the European Championship, expectations were not that high, but this time he's two years older and has more experience. They need to build the German team around him," Smicer concluded.
