Wirtz Disagrees with Van Dijk's Claim of Giving Up in Manchester City Defeat

Liverpool's Florian Wirtz has expressed disagreement with captain Virgil van Dijk's suggestion that the team gave up during their 4-0 FA Cup loss to Manchester City. Reds manager Arne Slot also questioned Van Dijk's criticism, stating he didn't see players giving up in the match. The comments came ahead of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain. Wirtz noted that despite being 3-0 down, the team still attempted to create scoring opportunities. Slot emphasized the importance of maintaining focus for the entire game, citing the difficulty of coming back from a 3-0 deficit. Van Dijk had stated after the match that giving up was possibly what happened at a certain point. Wirtz and Slot's remarks were made during a pre-match press conference before the PSG clash. The Liverpool manager acknowledged that conceding goals early in the game can be demotivating, but he believes the team did not give up. Wirtz also expressed confidence in manager Slot, saying the players still believe in him. The team is looking to bounce back from their FA Cup loss and perform well in the Champions League. Wirtz stressed the need for a full 90-minute effort with energy and commitment to achieve a positive result against PSG.