Liverpool legend Emile Heskey has issued a stark warning to Florian Wirtz, emphasising the need for the young German to step up his performances under manager Andoni Iraola. In an interview with Givemesport, the former striker highlighted the risk of Wirtz losing his starting spot if improvements aren’t made soon.
After a record transfer from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, with a fee of £116 million, Wirtz has struggled to make an impact during his debut season in the Premier League. Across 33 league appearances, the talented playmaker managed just five goals and three assists.
Despite his underwhelming form, Iraola has maintained Wirtz as the number one choice for the ‘number 10’ role this season. However, Heskey believes the club's patience is wearing thin.
“You have to support him, but he must start delivering,” Heskey said.
“The time has come, because the more pressure there is on the manager, the louder people will be saying, ‘Why do you keep playing him if he’s not performing?’ There will come a point when the manager says, ‘I can’t do this anymore. You need to step up.’”
Drawing comparisons between the 23-year-old and Philippe Coutinho, Heskey underscored the need for Wirtz to find his rhythm within the team. He urged that the club should shape their playing style to accommodate Wirtz’s unique talents.
“I like him because I see him a bit like Coutinho, and Coutinho was a magician for me. But he also needs to work with his teammates to get the best out of himself. At times, I don’t think they understand how he wants to play. Maybe he’s two steps ahead of them,” Heskey added.
“I still think he’s trying to figure out where he fits in the side. But in reality, he needs to make the others work around him. You are the talent. You are the playmaker.”
