Arne Slot has disputed Arsène Wenger’s comments that he “destroyed” the Liverpool midfielder to integrate Florian Wirtz. The former Arsenal boss even suggested that Wirtz had chosen Liverpool over Manchester City or Bayern Munich because he had been promised a number 10 role. “Everyone has the right to their opinion and many have one. That’s the beautiful thing about football, everyone has their own opinion on what to do. If I need open heart surgery, I won’t go and tell the surgeon what to do, but in football, everyone tells you what would be best to do. That’s also what’s nice about football: everyone knows it, so we can discuss it.”Slot responded at a press conference, visibly annoyed by Wenger’s analysis, before insisting on the potential that Wirtz shows in training.
Asked about the player’s positioning on the pitch, Slot then explained why the German played on the left side against Real Madrid. “I think we have five or six very good midfielders who can play together, but they need to play more together to get the best out of each other. Florian needs time to adapt to his teammates, and them to him. Now he played on the left. And I can tell you that if it’s not this season it will be next, or if it’s not now it will be tomorrow, he will have great performances as a midfielder for Liverpool.”he insisted. The Reds face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this Sunday.
