Chelsea boss Frank Lampard backs Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to become ‘huge players’ for the club

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard backs German duo Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to become ‘huge players’ for the club… and insists he has ‘no worries’ about their poor recent form

  • Timo Werner and Kai Havertz joined Chelsea in big-money transfers this summer
  • Werner has scored eight goals in 17 matches but missed several glaring chances
  • While Havertz has not yet nailed down a consistent place in the starting line-up 
  • Blues boss Frank Lampard has backed both of them to become important players

Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has defended Timo Werner and Kai Havertz despite their indifferent form since big-money moves this summer.

Forward Werner joined after Chelsea paid RB Leipzig his release clause of £47.5million, while midfielder Havertz signed from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal potentially worth up to £71million.

Although Werner has scored eight goals in all competitions, he has missed a host of presentable chances, while Havertz has struggled to play regularly.

Kai Havertz (left) and Timo Werner (right) are yet to hit the lofty expectations placed on them

Werner has missed several glaring chances, while Havertz has not yet nailed a starting slot

Werner has missed several glaring chances, while Havertz has not yet nailed a starting slot 

But speaking ahead of Chelsea’s final Champions League Group G match against Krasnodar, Lampard defended the pair.

He said: ‘I’ve got no worries about Timo. He’s come into this league, he’s made a big impact straight away. 

‘His speed, his direct nature, things he’s creating for the team, the fact he’s getting lots of chances, he makes lots of chances through his explosive nature and his eye to be in the right areas.  

But Blues boss Frank Lampard backed both of them to become huge successes at the club

But Blues boss Frank Lampard backed both of them to become huge successes at the club

‘And that I love. Timo’s going to be a huge player for this club.’

Chelsea icon Lampard also praised 21-year-old Havertz’ technical and mental attributes, putting his absences down to recovering from coronavirus.

He added: ‘He had really strong symptoms of Covid, he was very ill and struggling for quite a while. That’s why it took two or so weeks before he was starting again once he returned from Covid.

Lampard put Werner's misses down to receiving lots of chances by getting into good positions

Lampard put Werner’s misses down to receiving lots of chances by getting into good positions

The Chelsea head coach said Havertz' absences were as a result of recovering from Covid-19

The Chelsea head coach said Havertz’ absences were as a result of recovering from Covid-19 

‘Going into when he fell ill, his form was fantastic and he was playing some really good stuff. He was playing in the No. 8 role, the advanced midfield role, and I was delighted for him because you could see he was enjoying it and then obviously Covid cut that short.

‘Long-term, I’ve got absolutely no worries about Kai – in fact it’s the opposite. I know he’s going to be a huge player for this club, in the Premier League. He has all the attributes, all the personality, all the attitude and he’s going to be an absolutely top-class player for me, in the Premier League and in the world.’

Chelsea play Russian side FC Krasnodar on Tuesday evening having already qualified for the knockout stages, all but mathematically assured of top spot.