Didi Hamann: Florian Wirtz could leave Liverpool in January, competition between Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike is holding them back, the winner of Bayern vs Arsenal will be the Champions League favourite

Didi Hamann believes Florian Wirtz could leave Liverpool in January if he doesn’t show his worth at the club.

Speaking to CoinPoker.com, former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Hamann, says that the competition between Reds’ strikers Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike is also holding the pair back. 

Hamann has also previewed this week’s Champions League action with Arsenal facing Bayern Munich on Wednesday. 

Florian Wirtz has got until Christmas to show his worth at Liverpool

“Florian Wirtz has had chances to perform. He’s had chances over the last six to eight weeks, where the team hasn’t really fired since the start of the season. 

“Even the games against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Burnley were all games they probably didn’t deserve to win, but they did, and he played in all of them. He’s had the chance for the last three months to perform.

“What should make me believe he’s going to do it now, because the team seems to be in disarray? It’s not easy when you come in and there are cracks or problems within the team, and I don’t know what it is or why it is.

“He doesn’t look happy at the moment. He’s a player who learned football on the streets, and that’s how he played for Leverkusen, and this is why he was so natural, he always did the right thing. 

“Now he doesn’t do that anymore, he thinks too much. I think he works too much going backwards, which credits and honours him because he wants to help the team. But obviously, he was brought in to affect games on the other side of the pitch, and he hasn’t done it so far. 

“Having said that, it might take a little bit of weight off his shoulders because people clearly saw this past weekend that he is not the problem. Despite that, so far he’s been very disappointing.

“I think he’s got until Christmas now to show his worth, which is not easy because, as I said, the team is not functioning at the moment. I think if he doesn’t do it from now until Christmas, I’m pretty sure that the club will get together with him and see what the best would be for both parties.”

Florian Wirtz could still leave Liverpool on loan in January

“Could Florian Wirtz still leave Liverpool on loan in January? Yeah. Obviously with all the help and all the protection from the club and the manager, if you bring somebody in for that amount of money, then maybe he should be the one, even though he’s still very young, then maybe you expect him to turn things around. 

“I don’t think, the way he’s playing at the moment, I’m not sure he’s capable of doing that. And when I watch him sometimes, you know, thinking, has he lost belief because it is in the Premier League? 

“Sometimes when I watch him when he loses possession, I’m thinking maybe it’s because it’s a lot quicker, a lot more physical, as if he were to say: ‘I’m not sure that’s for me.’ 

“I hope I’m wrong, but this is how it looks to me. Sometimes if it’s going on for too long, you know, it’s very hard to turn it around.”

Antoine Semenyo will be on Liverpool’s radar

“When you look at the games now, they lose or the way they play, sometimes you just wonder because they lack physicality. And obviously, Antoine Semenyo is a player who’s got plenty of pace, he’s a strong boy. And he’s certainly a player who’s on the radar. 

“He had a brilliant game at Anfield early in the season where I think he scored the two goals. So yeah, he’s certainly a player on the radar.

“Whether there’s money left in the tank, and I know because in the past they didn’t really spend an awful lot in the summer, but he’s certainly a player that would improve them. 

“Because at the moment, I think, you know, in the last three or four years, we always said it takes a very good player to improve them. I don’t think it takes that much now, but you know, even though he’s a brilliant player, I think at the moment it doesn’t take an awful lot to improve their team.”

Competition between Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike is holding them back

“I never really understood why they got two centre forwards, I think the goalkeeper and centre forward don’t really want competition for their place. Mikel Arteta tried it with Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya, and one had to leave.

“With the centre forwards, it’s the same thing. You want to know that you’re the main man. And if you’re fit, you play. Even if you don’t score for 70 minutes, you know you’re not coming off. 

“That’s always in the back of their minds, I think. I never understood why you need two £100 million plus strikers. It’s just a mystery to me because I said it, Alexander Isak is too good to fail. Now, if you ask me, will he cut it at Liverpool? I’m not sure.”

Nick Woltemade is like Darwin Nunez – he is so good to watch

“Nick Woltemade occupies defenders. Darwin Nunez got a lot of stick, but when he did play, he always occupied two or three defenders with his height, with his pace, with his physicality. 

“I think it’s similar with him because when you’re under pressure, and obviously they were under pressure a lot against Man City, sometimes you have to play long balls. 

“You just know that he either brings the ball down or flicks it on because it’s the hardest thing when a long punt comes, you’re up against one or two defenders.

“It’s almost impossible to keep hold of the ball. But I think this is why it’s so important, it’s so good. And it’s not only his goals, I think it’s his overall game. And probably people don’t give him credit enough for his technical ability. He’s got brilliant feet and he’s just good to watch.”

Nick Woltemade has an even bigger ceiling at Newcastle

“Does Nick Woltemade have an even bigger ceiling at Newcastle? I think he does. He’s playing against the best players, best defenders now, and he stands his ground. 

“For any team, sometimes when you want to mix it up towards the end of the game, to bring him on for the last 20, 25 minutes, he’ll cause carnage. So, you know, I think the sky is the limit for him. 

“Sometimes you only find out when you make that step. In a way probably helped him because Newcastle is probably the better fit now than Bayern Munich even though Bayern Munich are playing really well but he wouldn’t have played because Harry Kane is there and he’s scoring every week.

“You only find out how good these players are when you play at that level when you test them and you know he’s been tested now for three or four months he passed the test. I think anything is possible for him.”

Frank Lampard has got to be thankful and grateful to Coventry City

“I think in a way, Frank Lampard has got to be thankful and grateful as well to be given the opportunity because the jobs he’s had didn’t really work out too well. 

“I think they showed huge faith to pick him for a Championship club with the ambition to get promoted. So I don’t think it was a foregone conclusion that he would get a club like this. 

“So, in a way, I know him, I think he’ll be very grateful towards the club, and if they do get promoted, it’s a long way to go, but obviously it looks very good at the moment, I can’t really see him leaving in the summer.”

I can see Joshua Zirkzee going to Italy

“They sent him away. I’m not sure yet. I don’t think Bayern Munich will bring him back after being so disappointed or not getting opportunities with Manchester United. 

“He did really well in Italy, so maybe this should be his first port of call, to go back to Italy, because obviously the league suits him a lot better. He’s not the most technically gifted player, he’s just a powerful player with a bit of pace who knows where the goal is. 

“But I don’t think United is good enough at the moment to have a player like him, because they don’t create enough. I can’t really see him at Bayern Munich. I think Italy might be the port of call, but there’ll be interest in Germany. Having said that, when you play in England, the wages are very often a problem, and also a transfer fee.”

Bayern Munich fancy their chances against Arsenal and rightly so

“Bayern Munich fancy their chances against Arsenal and rightly so. They went 2-0 down after 20 minutes on Saturday and ended up winning 6-2 against a decent Freiburg side. 

“So, they’re just full of confidence at the moment, and they hardly have any injuries, they’ve got everybody on board. Obviously, Harry Kane will want to score against his North London rivals. 

“Arsenal are very functional but Bayern Munich is really flowing. Obviously, the opposition for Arsenal in the league might be a bit better than what Bayern Munich faces. But it’s two different ways of playing football here, a team that doesn’t concede, is very functional, and sometimes only needs one goal to win games and on the other side, a free-flowing, free-scoring team. 

“So, it’ll be very interesting and intriguing to see how it pans out. By the way Bayern Munich’s going at the moment, I think they can win anywhere. As you said, they are the two most in-form teams, the two powerhouses of European football at the moment, two of the favourites, I’d say with PSG. 

“It’s only a group game. They will both probably qualify directly for the last 16. Nevertheless, it’ll be a game where you can put a marker down.”

Michael Olise has been fantastic – it’ll be the same against Arsenal

“Michael Olise scored two goals at the weekend and had three assists. He’s been fantastic. He’s been a bit quiet, you’ve got to say, in the last few weeks because Bayern Munich have been brilliant, the headlines were made by other players. 

“I think just in time he came back to form on Saturday and had a brilliant game. It’s just lovely to watch because every time he gets the ball, you know something’s going to happen. And I think we’ll see that on Tuesday as well.”

The winner of Arsenal vs Bayern will be the Champions League favourite

“I think the winner will be the favourites, because PSG have had injuries. I’d say whoever wins that game will be favourite to win the Champions League. Then again, it doesn’t really count for an awful lot, because we know what happened to Liverpool last season after being so good and dominant in the group phase. But yeah, it’ll be a statement.

“Bayern Munich still haven’t lost, with only one draw throughout the campaign so far. So, yeah, it’s a team that’s going from strength to strength. How long they can keep it going, I don’t know. But as long as they are on that run, I think they’re a hugely dangerous team.”

Ireland celebrated their win over Hungary – what did Wayne Rooney expect?

“What did he expect? They had one point after three games, they beat Armenia, beat Portugal at home, then they go to Hungary knowing they need to win. 2-1 down, 10 minutes to go, nothing really happening. And out of the blue, they scored the equaliser and then obviously the last kick of the game, Parrott with a fantastic finish. 

“I think they had every right to enjoy that success and celebrate the way they did because this group of players has really enjoyed success because the last seven, eight years been pretty dire. 

“A lot of the campaigns been over before they started, you know, losing games to Armenia, losing games to Luxembourg. Again, they lost to Armenia, second game and you thought that’s it. 

“To pull through, to stick together, to believe they can do it and to do it the way they did in Hungary, Budapest, 60,000 there. It was a fantastic game, it was a fantastic occasion and I think they deserve the celebration. 

“But they know there’s two more games to play. But with the belief they’ve got now, with the unity, I think they’ve got every chance to qualify now.”

Ireland’s playoff draw could’ve been worse

“I was there three, four, five years ago. They played Denmark and they lost 5-1 at home. You’ve got to go past the Czechs first. If it is against Denmark at home in the final. Yeah, the Aviva will be bouncing.

“It won’t be easy, but obviously they avoided Turkey, they avoided Italy, so it probably could have been worse.”

Would I pay £25million for Troy Parrott? I’m not too sure

“I read they’re talking about £25 million for Troy Parrott. He’s certainly a very talented player, but when he came through at Tottenham, everybody thought he was the next Robbie Keane or whoever. It didn’t turn out that way. 

“He’s still pretty young, he’s only 23, and whether he can cut it in the Premier League, I don’t know. Part of the reason he’s been so successful now for Ireland, I think, is because he’s played at a decent level over there.

“He’s confident, this guy, because he scores a lot of goals in the Dutch league. Would I pay £20-25 million for him? Not too sure.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has a chance at the World Cup

“He won the European Championship, as well, but then again Lionel Messi has won the Copa America as well. I wouldn’t like to choose between one or the other, two fantastic players. 

“Portugal, I think they’ve got a chance if he’s still firing. I think sometimes he stayed on the pitch too long at the Euros, because I think he decides himself when he’s coming off. That could be a bit of an issue. Two fantastic players, I wouldn’t like to choose one over the other.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 1000 goals will stay his record – Messi isn’t bothered

“I’m pretty sure that record will stay his. He’s still scoring with another overhead kick, how he still does it at 40 years of age is just unbelievable. 

“I think we’ll still be talking about these guys in 20, 30 years time because to have two at the same time, I’m not sure that will ever happen again. It’s just great to have him for as long as we have.

“But I don’t think Lionel Messi is too bothered about breaking all the records, whereas Ronaldo wants to break all the records. So I think that’s certainly one that Ronaldo will keep.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last game being the World Cup final in New York would be awesome

“If you don’t care about that then what do you care about? I’m sure it’s the biggest. It’s the biggest in international football. It’s the biggest title you can win. 

“Nothing tops a World Cup final. He certainly wants to win it, maybe just wants to bring expectations down. I do not know what a story it would be if he were to lift it. 

“I think the final is in New York. If he were to lift that trophy, maybe the last game is played, then it will be awesome.”

Christian Pulisic has disappeared in the biggest tournaments

“There’s been a lot of hope for Christian Pulisic to do it on the biggest stage for a number of years now. He’s disappeared pretty much from international football or European football tournaments in the last few years.

“When he came through at Borussia Dortmund, everybody thought he was the next big thing. And it didn’t really turn out that way. I think in America, it calmed down a bit under Mauricio Pochettino, and there was a bit of pressure early on. They had a very good result the other day.

“He’s certainly one of the key players for the US. So he’s got to perform. If they want to get out of the group, if they want to get to the last 16, quarter-finals.

I think he’s in a decent spell at his club at the moment. He’s doing well there. But, you know, the quote about Cristiano Ronaldo and him being the most influential, there will be other players at the World Cup. 

“As I said, he’s a very talented player, but things didn’t really work out in the last few years. So I want to see a bit more of him, also at international level, to give that quote any credibility.”