Thomas Tuchel insists ‘we must not lose faith’ in Timo Werner or Kai Havertz after the German duo put in another disappointing performance against Porto in Champions League
- Thomas Tuchel insists he will not lose faith in Timo Werner or Kai Havertz
- The German duo have struggled since arriving at Chelsea for a combined £138m
- Their struggles continued this week with a disappointing showing against Porto
- Tuchel believes the duo haven’t had the easiest task and must be shown support
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel insists he will not lose faith in Timo Werner and Kai Havertz even after they struggled again in Chelsea’s midweek win over Porto.
The German pair, who cost a combined £138million last summer, have managed just three goals between them since the start of 2021.
Both started in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg win over Porto but both were hauled off in the second half having drawn another blank.
Thomas Tuchel will not lose faith in struggling duo Timo Werner (left) or Kai Havertz (right)
The Chelsea boss has backed his compatriots to succeed and applauded their ‘hard work’
‘They did not have the easiest task up front. They had a big impact defensively and they worked hard for us, both Kai and Timo. It was difficult for them to find spaces and create something, so we changed after 65 minutes but we will not lose faith and trust,’ Tuchel said.
‘We accept sometimes it’s hard sometimes to have a big impact. Maybe Timo misses a bit of confidence in his finishing but Kai I feel is very self-confident. There are no bigger concerns. It was just in this game we tried to change the momentum.’
Havertz was again deployed as a false nine against Porto, with Werner operating behind him alongside Mason Mount.
Mount made the first-half breakthrough for Chelsea before Ben Chilwell cemented their advantage heading into the second leg.
Havertz and Werner have managed just three goals between them since the start of 2021
For Werner, meanwhile, the wait for a return to form goes on. After eight goals in his first 12 Chelsea appearances, he has now scored just once in the league since November.
But ahead of Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace, Tuchel added: ‘Look at the games Porto played in the Champions League. If you can show me any nice, fluid and pretty games of any opponent we can talk again.
‘I did not find it. They make your life very tough. They went through the group with 13 points.
‘You can ask in the group how easy it was to play against them. They make your life hard, especially for offensive players.’