Florian Wirtz has dismissed Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk‘s comments suggesting that the team had given up during their 4-0 FA Cup loss to Manchester City. However, he acknowledged that failing to put forth a full 90-minute effort against Paris Saint-Germain would leave them with “no chance” in Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
Liverpool is set to face last season’s Champions League winners in Paris just four days after their disheartening defeat at the Etihad Stadium, a match during which many Reds supporters left early due to the team’s poor showing.
Following the loss, Van Dijk stated: “You shouldn’t give up, and that’s perhaps what happened at a certain point.”
Addressing the media in Paris, Wirtz argued that the players continued to seek opportunities against City, despite the unfavorable outcome. “I wasn’t aware of what Van Dijk said, but I disagree because we did try to create chances to turn the result around. Of course, when you’re down 3-0 or 4-0 towards the 80th minute, it becomes mentally challenging to keep pushing. Nevertheless, we gave our all,” he remarked.
“Even at 3-0 or 4-0, we had some opportunities, but it’s just not acceptable for us to lose 4-0 to City.”
A £116 million ($154 million) summer recruit from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz emphasized the need for Liverpool to step up their game against PSG to keep their hopes alive for the second leg at Anfield. “We need a complete 90 minutes of energy and commitment; otherwise, we will have no chance,” he stated. “We must remain united as a team, even during difficult moments.”
“If we concede a goal, we need to stick together and believe that we can still win the game, knowing we also have the second leg at home.”
“The Champions League is a prestigious competition; these matches are always memorable, and we aim to make the most of this round.”
“We understand the challenges ahead, as the world’s top teams compete in the Champions League. However, it’s an opportunity to test ourselves, and we’ve demonstrated our capability in key matches this season, especially in the Champions League.”
“We believe in our abilities and have a strong group filled with talented players, led by a manager who prepares us well for each game.”
“Having the second leg at home could be advantageous, so we aim to achieve a positive result to take to Anfield.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who confirmed that £125 million ($166 million) forward Alexander Isak will be available for the substitutes’ bench after recovering from a broken leg, is facing increasing scrutiny due to the team’s inability to build on last season’s Premier League title success.
The Champions League represents Liverpool’s last chance for silverware this season, but Slot pointed out that the club’s rich history in the tournament—having won it six times—illustrates their potential to salvage this season.
“It’s true that our performances and results have been inconsistent throughout the season,” Slot acknowledged. “But the strength of this club lies in its history.”
“Liverpool has consistently proven that they can bounce back in tough situations. This season, we’ve had our share of ups and downs, but we’ve also shown resilience.”
“This club has the capability to achieve remarkable feats in challenging circumstances, but doing so is easier said than done.”
“Despite our previous inconsistencies in games, we’ve shown our potential to compete with the best teams in Europe, except for a few matches at the Etihad.”