But you know the phrase: “No rule without exception”? I feel the same way now. Because for Florian Wirtz, Nagelsmann has overridden his always implemented-and repeatedly praised-performance principle and of course nominated the 22-year-old. Although Wirtz is very, very sword in the first weeks of the season at Liverpool FC. In nine games for the “Reds”, he has only brought about a single goal participation and is already sharply criticized.
This is a very exciting situation: does the performance principle not apply to Wirtz? Aren’t all national players the same in front of Nagelsmann?
The answer is very clear: Yes, of course – but Wirtz is a special case. He has had the first very big change of his career and has to acclimatize with his new environment, his new teammates, a new league and a new country. He currently has problems with this. And I can understand that: When I switched to AC Florence in 1992, I felt the same way, I needed a time to get used to properly.
But: With these difficulties and above all with the criticism, he has to cope. So far, he has always been steeply upright – but not now. This time can and must be extremely instructive for Wirtz. He now has to find the right answers – even in the sense of his career, in which he still has 15 years ahead of him. It can grow on this current crisis. He will grow on this crisis. If he draws the right conclusions, he can finally penetrate the absolute world class.
By the way, things have been going quite differently at Nick Woltemade at Newcastle United. The former Stuttgart team has already scored three goals in six competitive games for his new club, it really seems to work directly between the club and the player.