Florian Wirtz Embraces Andoni Iraola's Vision at Liverpool
Florian Wirtz is already buying into the Andoni Iraola era at Liverpool.
The German playmaker, speaking after Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to AS Monaco in pre-season, cut a relaxed but determined figure as he assessed life under the club’s new head coach – and the work still to come before the campaign begins.
Wirtz warming to Iraola’s ideas
Iraola arrived at Anfield earlier in the summer, replacing Arne Slot after the Dutchman’s departure. The Spaniard walked away from Bournemouth at the end of last season following three years in charge, a spell that clearly left an impression on his new No 10.
“Yeah, I think especially the last three years he did at Bournemouth, you could see what he can do with the team,” Wirtz said. “Of course, we are looking forward to working with him.
“The first weeks for me, I think it’s only two weeks now that I’m training, so I can just say that I’m enjoying it. I like the idea of football he has, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
There was no grand tactical breakdown from Wirtz, no sweeping declarations about a revolution. Just a clear sense that the 23-year-old sees a coach with a defined plan and a style that suits him.
Encouraging flashes, clear demands
Liverpool’s narrow loss to Monaco underlined where they are in their preparation: dangerous in spells, but far from the finished article. Wirtz did not gloss over that.
“I’ve not spoken about the style so much. I think he has his ideas of playing football. We just have to work on that even more now,” he admitted. “I think only the first 30 minutes were good from us. I think we still have a lot to improve in training and also in the next match.”
That assessment fits the performance. Liverpool started with intensity and control, then faded as Monaco grew into the game. The patterns Iraola wants were visible early on; the consistency to sustain them over 90 minutes clearly is not there yet.
For Wirtz, who contributed to 15 goals in all competitions in his first season in England, the next step is obvious: sharpen the understanding of Iraola’s demands and turn those bright half-hours into complete performances.
Settled in England, ready for the next step
If the tactical language is still being learned, the league no longer is. Wirtz, now a year into his Premier League adventure, knows the terrain.
“I’ve played one year now in England. I’ve said this often enough that it’s a different style of football in England than in Germany. You just get used to the games and the opponents.”
That adaptation period matters. The tempo, the physical duels, the relentlessness of the schedule – all of it can drain a newcomer. Wirtz has already lived it once. Now he enters a second season with the benefit of experience and a coach whose aggressive, front-foot football should suit his creativity and work rate.
The pieces are there: a young playmaker on the rise, a coach with a clear identity, a squad still finding its rhythm. Pre-season has exposed the gaps. The real question is how quickly Iraola and Wirtz can turn early promise into something far more imposing when the serious football starts.
