Wirtz: A bottle or two might go flying

Following his convincing performance in the 3-0 win against Armenia Bielefeld at the BayArena, Florian Wirtz was named in the kicker team of the matchday – for the fifth time this season. And the Leverkusen midfielder was again included in the team of the matchday for the BILD Zeitung.

Florian, how do you deal with such praise from outside the club?

Wirtz: Of course, it makes me happy when my performances are rated and valued in the media. When people have fun watching me playing football even when I don't score or provide an assist but instead am able to help the team in other ways. But I'm also happy about the inclusion of Eddy (Tapsoba, ed.) and Moussa (Diaby, ed.) – that shows we produced a good performance as a team.

How aware are you in general of external assessments in print, on TV or on social media? Do you read as much as possible or do you mostly tend to ignore it?

Wirtz: I've been lucky up to now not having to read much that's negative. (He laughs) But, of course, I do get to hear about some of it. Friends and teammates send me things. Basically I'm aware that there's always a lot written and verdicts are made quickly. That's all part of our modern media landscape. So I never really make much out of assessments from outside. It doesn't matter if it's positive or negative. I feel I've been able to assess the situation myself really well up to now.

You have broken club and Bundesliga records, won the U21 European Championships with Germany in the summer of 2021 and you played for the national team at the age of 18. How can you take in such a successful development – how do you keep your feet on the ground?

Wirtz: I just try to produce a good performance game by game – and always have fun. I think that's why we start playing football: Because we want to have fun on the pitch. And a good position in the table at the end of the day. And it's really great fun for me at the moment. Both the team and me are playing with a certain lightness. That motivates me to want to produce good performances again and again. To show that it's not just a phase. My aim is to be a player who improves from game to game.

How does a player like that deal with setbacks?

Wirtz: I used to be somebody who would cry on the pitch after losing a game but fortunately I'm not like that any more. (He laughs) But, of course, I get annoyed. For example, it was really bad at Mainz and I was really hacked off. A bottle or two might go flying. Overall, I can deal better with defeats now. There is disappointment straight afterwards but at least two days later you have to be able to reset and focus again. Our win against Bielefeld showed that.

How exactly do you process defeats?

Wirtz: We usually have recovery training the day afterwards. Then we analyse the game together as a team with the coaches and video analysts. There we look at both attacking and defensive moves. In addition, every individual player has the possibility of looking at his own moves again. By that point at the latest, the focus is back on the next opponents. Then there is no place for being annoyed and we just look forwards.

What would you say: Who is your biggest critic and who is your biggest fan?:

Wirtz: My biggest critic is – I think – the coach. He has a high opinion of me but he also expects and demands a lot because of that. My father also gives me advice from time to time. I accept a lot of it, not least because I mostly see it in the same way. I would describe my family and friends as my biggest fans – from my grandmother via my mother down to my youngest sister really support me unconditionally. I even get a message from my gran when she's watched me playing in a game. (He laughs)

Looking forward to the big match: What do you expect from #FCBB04?

Wirtz: It will be important to create chances but then also take them. You don't get that many against Bayern – even when they play a high line but they just do it very well and that's why there justifiably at the top of the table. We also have to be focused as a team in defence. It's about defending your own goal as a group and then go on to our strength in counter-attacking to create chances – or possibly score another goal from a set-piece. The basics will be crucial.

What's FC Bayern's biggest strength?

Wirtz: That they consistently produce a performance in nearly every game. Every player actually achieves a top level over the whole season – for years – regardless of against who. But, of course, Bayern can drop points against a few opponents.

How do you prepare for a game like that: For example, do you study possible opponents such as Joshua Kimmich?

Wirtz: Of course, you think to yourself beforehand that it won't be an easy game against Bayern. The tension is automatically greater and you go to bed ten minutes earlier the night before. (He laughs) But my build-up is always the same in principle. Ahead of the game we have another opportunity to watch individual moves by the opposing players and how they resolve certain situations. Kimmich controls Bayern's build-up play. He gets the most passes. So I'll try and stop that, put him under pressure so that he hopefully can't find his teammates.