Wearing a shy smile, Florian Wirtz stepped onto the pitch at the small AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg. The home of VfL Wolfsburg's women's and youth teams erupted in warm applause from about 4,000 fans for the struggling Liverpool striker.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann's comments struck a chord. In a passionate address, the 38-year-old urged patience and support for the 22-year-old forward, while criticizing Liverpool for failing to convert his chances.

Nathaniel Brown (R) of Eintracht Frankfurt vies with Florian Wirtz of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League group stage 3rd round match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC in Frankfurt, Germany, Oct. 22, 2025. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)

"He creates a lot, but they don't finish them. That's part of the truth," Nagelsmann said. "We all need to back him so he can clear his head and perform at his best - both here and in Liverpool."

Nagelsmann added that Liverpool lacked collective spirit. "Every one of the five strikers thinks he should be starting," he noted.

After joining Liverpool from Leverkusen for a reported 150 million euros, Wirtz has often found himself on the bench. Nagelsmann called the situation "complex," saying the club as a whole had been inconsistent compared with last season.

"At his age, fluctuations are normal," he said. "You can't expect him to play at the highest level nonstop for three years."

Still, Nagelsmann praised Wirtz's growing intensity and recent progress. "Flo has been improving week by week," he said. "We all know what he can bring to us - and to any club."

Despite criticism over his recent form, Nagelsmann said Liverpool's recent wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid were "promising," even with a "little setback" in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City.

"I'm in the right place and want to help make Liverpool successful," Wirtz had said earlier.

Nagelsmann encouraged him to use the international break to rebuild confidence. Germany faces Luxembourg on Friday and Slovakia on Monday in its 2026 World Cup qualifiers, needing two wins to secure top spot in the group.