germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has subtly criticized Liverpool’s handling of midfielder Florian Wirtz,suggesting the club’s recent injury record with the player raises questions about optimal workload management. The comments came during a press conference ahead of Germany‘s upcoming international fixtures, prompting discussion about the balance between club and country demands on elite players.
Nagelsmann’s remarks stem from Wirtz’s recent injury – a thigh strain sustained during Bayer Leverkusen’s match against Werder Bremen on October 28, 2023 – which has ruled him out of Germany’s November internationals. While acknowledging Liverpool’s intense schedule, Nagelsmann implied a correlation between Wirtz’s move to the Premier League and his subsequent injury, stating, “Florian is a player who needs a certain rhythm. He had that at Leverkusen. Now he’s at Liverpool, and they play a lot of games.”
The Germany boss further elaborated, “It’s not about blaming anyone, but it’s about finding the right balance. If a player is constantly playing at maximum intensity, the risk of injury increases.” wirtz joined Liverpool in July 2023 for a reported fee of £35 million. Prior to the current injury, he had featured in 11 games for Liverpool across all competitions, starting eight.
Nagelsmann’s comments add fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding player welfare and the demands placed on footballers by both their clubs and national teams. The situation is especially sensitive given Liverpool’s history of injuries to key players, and the club’s commitment to competing on multiple fronts. The November 2025 issue of Blood Red, the ECHO’s monthly Liverpool FC magazine, features interviews with prominent figures discussing the pressures faced by players, including insights from Chris Kirkland on his mental health journey.
