In an interview with camel.live after Liverpool’s match against Athletic Bilbao, Florian Wirtz stated that the transfer fee is a club-level matter, and his only focus is on performing well on the pitch.
How did it feel stepping onto Anfield for the first time?
Yeah, it felt really good! I’ve really enjoyed these first few weeks, and of course today—first time at Anfield, it was great, I love it here.
Do you think you can bring out your best form right away?
Absolutely, that’s why I’m here. I feel like I can fit into this team, and I’m happy playing with these quality players. Things are getting better every day, and I’m satisfied with how it’s going so far.
On the pitch, you seemed to have a lot of freedom. Was that an instruction from the coaching staff—telling you to play freely?
Yeah, it was. I think I’m the kind of player who needs a bit of freedom on the pitch, and the coach has given me that space.
Of course, I have to respect my position and my teammates, but I’ll try to perform at my best, find the right spots to receive the ball and make moves. I have the freedom to do that.
Speaking of freedom, in the Premier League, facing experienced defenders, do you think you’ll still be able to freely find space?
I’ll try my best to find those gaps and positions, hold onto the ball, then create threats and chances. I haven’t played in the Premier League yet, but I’m really looking forward to it—that’s one of the reasons I came here.
Talking about the Premier League, how much did you know about it before? Compared to the Bundesliga, do you think the challenges will be bigger? Like, will it be harder to play?
Honestly, I can’t say for sure right now. But I’m really looking forward to playing here. It’ll definitely be different from the Bundesliga, but I see that as a great opportunity to learn and improve. So, I’m very excited.
Have any of your teammates told you what to expect in the Premier League? There must be one or two who used to play in the Bundesliga, right?
Yeah. They all say the Premier League is faster, more physical, and every player is strong and quick. That’s what everyone’s told me, so I have a good idea.
Changing the topic, Liverpool invested a lot in bringing you here. Does that price tag put extra pressure on you, or do you not think about it at all?
No, I don’t think about it. The transfer fee is a matter between clubs; my job is to focus on playing well!
Let’s talk about your new teammates. How have you been getting on with Ékitiké in training and matches? Last season you were opponents on the pitch.
He’s a fantastic player! I loved watching him play when he was at Frankfurt, and I was really happy when he decided to come here. We’ve clicked in training, and we had some good combinations in today’s game too. I’m really glad to be playing with him.
Liverpool have brought in several new faces this summer. With so many new players joining and adapting to the new environment and tactics at the same time, do you think that’s a unique challenge
It is a bit of a challenge, but I think having several new players come in together is actually a good thing. We can talk more, share how we feel, and that makes settling in quicker and easier.
Finally, this team won the Premier League title last season, so the goal for the new season is naturally to defend it. What do you hope to bring to this championship-winning side to help make the team even stronger?
Well, of course, the biggest challenge is winning again, which will be very difficult. I’ll try to create chances and contribute defensively too—I can run a lot, after all.
I hope to bring that to the team: when I have the ball, help the team move smoothly, make it easier for my teammates to play and get into better positions. That’s what I want to do.
