Florian Wirtz has spoken about his challenging start at Liverpool, but the Germany international feels he has grown as a player through his experience at Anfield.
Wirtz believes he has moved past his early difficulties, insisting he continues to develop since his Premier League switch. The German talent faced a tough adjustment period following his high-profile transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.
However, he is now becoming a key figure for the Reds and carries momentum after a standout international break with Die Mannschaft, where he scored two goals and provided two assists in a 4-3 win over Switzerland. The 22-year-old joined Liverpool during the summer for £116million and had to wait before fully demonstrating his talent at Anfield.
He was part of the squad traveling to Paris, where Liverpool aim to replicate last year’s first-leg result. The Reds are seeking revenge against Luis Enrique’s side, who defeated them en route to their first Champions League title last season after overturning a first-leg deficit and winning on penalties at Anfield.
Wirtz admitted that his debut under Arne Slot was far from simple but believes he has now turned a corner. He told TNT Sports: “I know that they paid a lot for me. I still think that I’m improving, it was a difficult start for me because I wanted to impact the team immediately.
“I have to accept it, I’m feeling very good now on a physical level. I’m feeling good in England now because this was a big change for me, now I’m trying to make the team better.”
The German will be eager to shine in Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain. The odds are stacked against the six-time champions, whose season has been marred by a 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City.
Liverpool’s loss at the Etihad Stadium ended their hopes of winning domestic silverware while defending their Premier League title. PSG are Europe’s current champions, setting a challenging backdrop for Liverpool’s visit.
Speaking ahead of the match, Wirtz shared his excitement for big games: “These are the games you want to play as a player and I dreamt of when I came to this club.
“We try everything to do a good game tomorrow and next week also at Anfield. So yeah, these are the games you want to play as a player and for sure come through this round.”
