Thomas Tuchel has explained the reason behind Timo Werner’s struggle at Chelsea and why he continues to select him despite a lack of goals.
The 24-year-old Germany international has scored just once in Tuchel’s eight games in charge of the West London club and the former PSG boss believes Chelsea’s style of play sometimes holds Werner back.
The Blues have averaged 69 per cent possession in six league games under the German gaffer; causing opposition teams to sit in defensive shapes most times and hit them on the counter attack.
Tuchel: “Maybe it is our fault because we have a lot of possession and we push opponent teams very, very deep in their half so spaces are not too big.”
“The biggest strength of Timo is to attack the space behind the last line so it is maybe also our fault in the dominant game that we play in the moment, it is very natural that the spaces are closed by the opponents.
“A game like against Atletico, is there any team out there in the world that can close spaces like Atletico? I don’t know. This is not exactly the opponent that you wish for Timo to show all his skills, so what is left for him is to not lose faith and work for the team.
“We are reflecting a lot about this and working a lot with him.
“There are also solutions in tight spaces to use his speed in the first metres, to use his acceleration.
“But it is not easy for him and I can totally see this and it is why I am very patient and very supportive and I believe in his potential and character and of course his goal-scoring skills.”
Werner got off to a strong start under Frank Lampard, scoring eight times in his first 12 matches in all competitions.
But as Chelsea’s form dipped under Lampard, Werner went 14 consecutive league matches without a goal – stretching between November and February.
