Timo Werner has been slapdash in front of goal since £53m Chelsea move

Timo Werner has been haphazard in front of goal since his £53m move to Chelsea and he was again in the West Ham win… but his first goal in two months could help the striker click into the groove at just the right time

  • Werner scored his second league goal since November against the Hammers 
  • The German has struggled with his finishing since his high-profile summer move 
  • If this winning goal gives him confidence, Chelsea will be a much stronger side
  • The Blues could yet produce an end-of-season flourish under Thomas Tuchel 

If Chelsea are to turn this season into something memorable, they need Timo Werner to spearhead the team like a world-class striker they thought he was when they agreed to pay £53million for his services.

They need him to lead the line, score the goals and shoulder the burden in the biggest games, just as he did by scoring the only goal in this crucial victory in the scramble for the top four.

They will hope Werner can replicate his performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.

Chelsea forward Timo Werner (second left) scored the winner against West Ham on Saturday

It was only the second Premier League goal the German has scored since back in November

The 25-year-old has often been haphazard in front of goal since his £53million summer move

He has not found it at all easy since the Blues fought off Liverpool to sign him from RB Leipzig. There was an early flurry of promise followed by long barren spells and signs of damaged confidence.

High on Thomas Tuchel’s list of priorities when he replaced Frank Lampard was to restore his confidence and get him firing and there has been no quick and easy solution.

The vital goal against West Ham, his first in any competition for more than two months and his only second in the Premier League since early November, was a flash of encouragement.

Not only the sight of him tapping the low cross from Ben Chilwell into the net from close range but the centre-forward’s craft evident in the way he held up the ball and linked the move, helped Chelsea advance up the pitch and finished the move.

So often since his move to London, Werner has given the impression he would rather play wide, pulling instinctively into an inside left channel in search of the open spaces where he clearly feels his explosive pace can be most effective.

Boss Thomas Tuchel will hope the goal will give Werner confidence for the rest of this season

Here he was deployed through the centre and held his position. Two minutes before half-time, collected an N’Golo Kante pass with his back to goal, resisted the challenge from behind, found Christian Pulisic, turned and sprinted into the area.

‘A good goal,’ from Franco Zola in the Sky Sports studio. ‘He was in the right position. Chilwell has made a fantastic pass. Timo was in the right place too and he could finish. 

‘I do think in the middle he can cause more damage to the opponent. He plays better on the shoulder.’

His acceleration and willingness to stretch central defenders by running behind them gives him an air of menace.

More evidence of this came in the second half when he sprinted behind West Ham’s back three and onto a pass from Cesar Azpilicueta. With another change of pace he cut inside past Angelo Ogbonna and forced a fine save from Lukasz Fabianski.

West Ham were aggrieved by the decision to send off defender Fabian Balbuena (not in shot)

Hammers boss David Moyes (left) saw his side concede ground in the Champions League race

In between came the other side of Werner as he dragged a simple chance wide after Fabianski made a flying save from Mason Mount. Tuchel turned away from the touchline in disbelief.

Despite an impressive goal rate in German football, he has been haphazard in front of goal. Just as likely to miss the target as he is to find the net.

Perhaps this goal will help him click into the groove. The congratulations from the Chelsea bench at half-time proves he is popular and they want him to do well.

If he can find his range in the next month, Chelsea might yet produce a flourish under Tuchel as they aim for the Champions League, the FA Cup and the top four.

In recent years, they have always been at their best with a strong and effective striker at the front of the team. 




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