Tuchel admits concern over Timo Werner as Chelsea down Arsenal in friendly

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel admits he holds concern over how clinical Timo Werner is in front of goal, saying he could have been more decisive in the friendly victory over Arsenal on Sunday.

The German scored 12 goals in his first season at Chelsea, arriving last summer, although only six of those came in the Premier League in 35 appearances.

It was a difficult campaign for the former RB Leipzig man and he did not fare much better with Germany at Euro 2020, failing to score as his country fell at the last 16 stage to England.

Werner laid on a goal for Kai Havertz on the 2-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday at the Emirates but also missed some chances of his own as his best goal-scoring form continued to elude him.

Asked if his lack of goals is going to be an ongoing problem, Tuchel said of Werner: ‘I hope not, he had also an assist.

‘Nothing has changed so far. He had a so-so Euros with Germany, but that was a concern of the whole team not his personal problem.

‘Now it’s on him. Like always it’s on him to show his quality and his ability.

‘It’s very hard to have a first match, first 45 minutes after a tough week that we put into the players, to play on this kind of level.

‘I’m happy that he was dangerous but there were some chances where he could be more decisive, could have scored could have assisted another one or two.

‘It’s a bit the same, like in the last games, but like I said, we’ve just started and it’s not the moment to blame.’

Tammy Abraham replaced Werner at half time at the Emirates and scored the winner as he fights for his Chelsea future.

The England international is expected to leave the club this summer, falling completely out of favour under Tuchel last season, although interested parties like West Ham, Aston Villa and Arsenal are unwilling to meet the £40m asking price.

The 23-year-old admitted he was struggling after the friendly, but is not talking like a player on the way out of the club.

‘I’m absolutely tired, shattered,’ he said. ‘The boys have been working hard in training and it’s for the best. We are all ready for the season. We still have time, players are still coming back. We will get there.’

Chelsea have been linked with a big-money move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski and Tottenham’s Harry Kane, but none of them look likely with the season just two weeks away.

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