Sports
Wenger Slams Florian Wirtz: He’s Destroyed Liverpool
Legendary French coach Arsène Wenger has launched a fierce criticism against Florian Wirtz, the German midfielder of Liverpool, holding him directly responsible for disrupting the balance of the team that won the Premier League last season. His comments, made on beIN SPORTS, have sparked controversy in both England and Germany.
“His signing broke Liverpool’s midfield”
The former Arsenal manager claimed that the biggest mistake in Wirtz’s arrival at Anfield were his demands during negotiations with the English club. According to Wenger, the German insisted on a non-negotiable condition: he wanted to play exclusively as a central attacking midfielder — his natural position — and not adapt to the team’s tactical needs.
“The problem lies in the demand Wirtz made to Liverpool. He asked to play as a No.10 and not on the wing if they wanted to finalize the deal. That move has destroyed the midfield of last season’s Premier League champions, where Gravenberch, Mac Allister, and Szoboszlai shone. With Wirtz in the mix, now Szoboszlai has to play wide,” Wenger stated.
The Frenchman didn’t hold back and added that if he were on the Reds’ bench, he would completely reshape the lineup. “If I were Arne Slot, I’d go back to last season’s midfield and play Wirtz on the left, giving him width in attack and freedom to move. But keeping him in the center has been a strategic mistake,” concluded the former coach of Arsenal’s “Invincibles.”
Liverpool Wins, but Wirtz Still Struggles
Wenger’s comments come just after Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 1-0 at Anfield in the fourth round of the Champions League. Although the win restored confidence for the English side, Wirtz once again went unnoticed. He barely influenced the game and was substituted in the second half without creating clear chances or showing the creativity that made him one of the most expensive signings of the summer.
Coach Arne Slot, meanwhile, preferred to highlight the team’s collective effort. “It was one of our best performances of the season. We could’ve scored more. Courtois was incredible — he’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” he said.
However, the British press has already begun debating whether Wirtz truly fits into the new Liverpool system. His talent is unquestionable, but adapting to the pace and intensity of the Premier League seems to be taking its toll. Meanwhile, Wenger’s words reopen a debate Anfield hoped was behind them: was Florian Wirtz the wrong signing for the Reds?
Sports
Iraola: My Fight With Isak Has Never Been About Goals
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola says Alexander Isak is a “massive” player for him – but adds he “fights” with the player about needing to do more for the “collective”.
Isak scored twice in the opening nine minutes in the 2-0 win over Ipswich to take his tally to three for the season – but Iraola hinted the player needs to do more off the ball for the team.
“He’s a massive player for us,” he told Sky Sports. “My demands will not be about the goals: he’s fit, in a good shape and he will produce the numbers.
“But my fights with him are more about other stuff, how to help the team in other situations. But it’s good he has played two full games and today a good amount of minutes, scoring the goals.”
Iraola did not reveal which specific areas Isak needs to improve, but it could be interpreted that Iraola wants his striker to do more in the pressing.
“I will demand other things so we can play well,” he said in his post-match press conference about those demands to Isak. “And if we play well, we are in good positions, the goals will come.
“He has to contribute to the collective and when everyone helps, after the goals and results will come.”
Iraola also said to Sky: “Today we were much, much better in our press. We were recovering very high and then we can contact him in good positions.
“If we recover the ball lower, it will be more difficult to find him to have less spaces. So we need more quality effort to put our No 9 in situations like he had today.”
Sports
‘It’s So Strong’ – Sabalenka Halts Play Over Cannabis Smell
Aryna Sabalenka briefly halted her US Open match against Kamilla Rakhimova because of a strong smell of cannabis before cruising into the fourth round in New York.
Top seed Sabalenka raised the issue after going 3-0 up in the first set against Uzbekistan’s Rakhimova, telling umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore that “someone is smoking weed”.
The Belarusian asked the umpire to intervene “because it’s so strong”.
Asderaki-Moore spoke to an official on her radio and made a smoking gesture to someone behind her, before play continued.
Two-time defending champion Sabalenka went on to secure a confident 6-3 6-4 victory on Louis Armstrong Stadium as she chases a fifth Grand Slam singles title.
Sabalenka said afterwards she was not sure where the smell of cannabis was coming from but asked fans to be more mindful.
Smoking is not permitted on site at Flushing Meadows but the smell of cannabis sometimes wafts on to court from the nearby Corona Park.
It is legal to smoke it in New York for adults aged 21 and over.
“It’s a bit tricky to handle that smell while you’re trying to compete at your best,” Sabalenka said.
“I don’t know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium.
“I just hope they’re going to be a bit more aware of that stuff.”
Sabalenka is not the first player at this year’s US Open to complain about the smell of cannabis at Flushing Meadows.
Britain’s Katie Boulter previously said it was distracting, while Harriet Dart and Francesca Jones also noticed the smell.
In past years players including Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev have also complained.
Sports
Onana Gets Twins As Salah Welcomes First Son Weeks After Joining Turkish Team
Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah has welcomed his third child and first son, named Lail, Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan said after the Turkish club’s third-round league match against Amedspor.
Doğan said Salah and his Cameroonian teammate André Onana travelled outside Turkey following the match as their wives were due to give birth.
“After the Amed match, we travelled abroad with Onana and Salah. Onana welcomed twins, while Salah welcomed a baby boy. I congratulate their families and wives,” Doğan was quoted as telling Turkish media.
Salah’s sister, Rabab Salah, later revealed the baby’s name on Instagram, posting a photograph of a baby hat and congratulating her brother on the birth of Lail.
The child is Salah’s first son. The Egyptian star and his wife, Magi, already have two daughters, Makka and Kayan.
Doğan’s comments came after a photograph of Salah and Onana aboard a private jet circulated online, prompting questions among Trabzonspor supporters and local media about the reason for their trip.
The club president said both players had travelled for family reasons following the match.
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