Florian Wirtz is looking forward to his second season at Liverpool but admits the team “has a lot of things to do better.”
The Germany international returned for pre-season last weekend and is in line to make his first appearance of the summer against Leeds United in Chicago on Sunday.
The 23-year-old is now working under new head coach Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot following the end of Wirtz’s debut 2025-26 campaign.
Speaking after training on Friday, Florian Wirtz reflected on his return, the team’s ambitions for the new season, and the appointment of a Liverpool legend as Germany’s new head coach.
Read the Q&A below…
Flo, welcome back. How have the first few days of pre-season been for you?
Thank you. I feel very good, very happy to see all of the boys again and also to meet the new manager and his staff. So, yeah, it feels really good.
How are your legs feeling? You’ve had almost a week of training so far. Do you think that you not having a long break over the summer might be helpful, you won’t have lost too much?
Yeah, I think the small break was important to calm down a little bit the body. It still was maybe not enough, could have been a few weeks more! But it’s like this when you are a professional footballer. I’m happy that I can play football again, because that’s what I love the most. So, yeah, just happy to be back.
You mentioned the new boss. What are the first impressions like for you? How’s it gone so far?
I just can say that the training is really fun, I enjoyed every training [session] until now. We play a lot of games and possessions, and that’s exactly what I like. I just enjoyed it until now.
He was talking this week about seeing you playing behind the striker in a central role. I know you’ll be happy to play anywhere, but is that something that excites you?
Of course. I mean, I was always more like a No.10. But I play where the manager puts me. We’ve spoken about that as well. Let’s see what happens this season.
Last season was one that no-one was particularly happy with. How are you feeling and what would you like in season two for you at Liverpool?
Yeah, of course I wasn’t happy at all – about the season, I mean. I was not unhappy every day when I came to training, but I think we expected much more last season. I think we start from zero this season. Also here with this training camp, it’s a new start. We have a lot of things to do better this season and I’m very excited for season two.
I just wanted to ask you as well, obviously a new boss here at the club but you have also a new manager at international level, someone we obviously know very well at Liverpool, with Jürgen Klopp taking over…
It’s very, very cool that he’s there now. I’ve not spoken to him yet but a lot of people here at the club told me about him, that he is a fantastic guy. All of Liverpool loves him. So, I’m very excited to meet him in a few months.
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