Werner will improve playing in front of Chelsea fans, insists Tuchel
Timo Werner will improve in front of Chelsea fans, insists Thomas Tuchel, after struggling to impress at an empty Stamford Bridge this season… as the German boss vows to ‘push’ the £53m forward to find his shooting boots
- Thomas Tuchel has thrown his backing behind struggling striker Timo Werner
- The £53m forward has struggled for confidence in first year at Stamford Bridge
- But Blues boss feels he will improve with the support of the Chelsea crowd
- He has netted six times in the league without crowds present this season
Timo Werner can take his performances up a level at Chelsea with the help of the club’s supporters, insists boss Thomas Tuchel.
The German forward – a £53million signing from Leipzig last summer – has endured a frustrating first campaign at Stamford Bridge, scoring just six times in the Premier League and failing to show his true class in a season played without spectators.
But his manager Tuchel believes Werner will relish playing in front of a crowd at Chelsea – stressing that the support of their fans can help him and other players ‘overcome difficult moments’.
Timo Werner can improve at Chelsea with the help of the fans, says Thomas Tuchel
The Blues boss has backed his fellow German to take his performances up a level next season
Werner played in front of Chelsea fans in their 2-1 win against Leicester this week – but saw penalty should controversially waved away by VAR.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s final game of the season against Aston Villa, he said: ‘I spoke about it with the board in our very first talks that I had the feeling it was a young team and looking at the characteristics from outside – not just with Timo – that the board should not forget the influence of not having the suppporters helping them overcome difficult moments in matches.’
The 25-year-old became one of the hottest properties in Europe last year having blitzed his way to 34 goals from 45 games for Leipzig – and Chelsea stole a march on both Liverpool and Real Madrid to snap him up quickly.
The forward played in front of a crowd in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Leicester but couldn’t find the net
But Werner has frustrated fans by failing to show a killer instinct in front of goal – being guilty of missing some gilt-edged chances while also seeing a handful of strikes chalked off.
Tuchel believes there is plenty of scope for improvement for his fellow German, and promised he would try to ‘push’ him to adapt and come back stronger next season.
‘He’s still young and can still improve. This is what we demand every week. When he has some time to rest, some time on holiday for mental rest, I’m sure he can take the next steps next year. He will know the environment, what he is up against, how to adapt. We try to push him now because we need that.
‘Many goalscorers in Europe take penalties for their team and it’s usual that their high numbers have penalties. If we had penalties in his number everyone might be happy with his numbers.’
Tuchel insists he will ‘push’ the £53m star to adapt and return stronger in the Premier League
Chelsea face two crucial games coming up – first away at Villa as they bid to hold on to their place in the top four, knowing only three points will guarantee their position.
Tuchel’s men then play in an all-English Champions League final against Manchester City, and while he believes securing the top four will ‘take pressure off’ in the final, he vowed his side will play ‘100 per cent’ to win both games.
‘For sure, it takes some pressure off [securing top four ahead of the final].
‘But I don’t think when we arrive next week for the Champions League final that it would be in our heads to make it into Champions League next season. We will play 100 per cent no matter what to win the come.
‘The side effect could be a crucial one but we don’t want to play this final to arrive in the Champions League. We put so much hard work, quality into the last months. We want to finish the game on Sunday.’
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