What Werner’s arrival means for Chelsea’s attacking players

The signing of Timo Werner has an impact on several Chelsea players, most notably those starters who are unproven in attack.

When unofficial rumors of RB Leipzig’s star striker joining Chelsea surfaced on the Twitter feeds of several credible sources, fans were ecstatic. The signing of such a superstar will definitely have an impact on the playing time of players in the same position. However, Werner’s versatility means that it is not only Chelsea’s other strikers who will be affected, but also the likes of Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Werner is not a traditional No. 9. The positional flexibility he has shown at Leipzig is the main reason Frank Lampard desperately wanted him at Chelsea. Take a look at the strikers Chelsea has been linked to, one quickly identifies a pattern of the club pursuing strikers who are either converted wingers or have the ability to perform well on the wing—Dries Mertens, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Werner.

For Leipzig, Werner usually plays on the left side of a front three or as the left striker of a front two. He is most dangerous when he cuts in from the wing and makes diagonal runs towards the goal. His early days as a winger will work in his favour in the Premier League, as he does not possess the physical dominance to lead the line against a side like Burnley, who defends with all 11 players behind the ball.

While most people assume Werner’s arrival will see Abraham benched next season, Chelsea is actually looking to field both strikers in the same XI. When Chelsea comes up against a defensive side like Burnley, it is much smarter to start either Giroud or Abraham with Werner playing off the left side as both those strikers are more adept at holding the ball up against deep lines of defence. Both Abraham and Giroud possess characteristics that Werner does not, allowing Lampard to choose his starting XI based on his opponent.

When Werner starts through the middle, it will be at the expense of Abraham and Giroud. However, when he starts on the left, it is Pulisic who will be sacrificed. When Chelsea starts in a traditional 4-3-3, the front three will most likely comprise of Hakim Ziyech, Abraham, and Werner, leaving Pulisic and even Callum Hudson-Odoi on the bench. However, the signing of yet another flexible attacker in Ziyech means that sometimes it may be Mount or Loftus-Cheek who will be benched.

Ziyech is more than capable of excelling in the No. 10 role. At the same time, Pulisic started his career as a right winger at Borussia Dortmund and has played in that role several times this season for Chelsea. When Chelsea lines up in a 4-3-2-1 with Abraham or Giroud leading the line, Werner would play on the left, Pulisic on the right and Ziyech as the No. 10—leaving Mount or Loftus-Cheek on the bench.

Fitting Werner into the starting XI does not only affect one player’s time on the pitch, but a group of players. However, Lampard has shown he is not afraid of switching formations. This means all players will be less involved than they have been this season, but will still play a major role in the team, especially if Chelsea is looking to compete in several competitions next season. This will also provide Lampard with security against injuries, fatigue and dips in form as he will always have a capable replacement to call upon.

This large group of talented, young attacking players poses a daily selection headache for Lampard. Given the number of fixtures Chelsea expects to play next season, this is the best kind of headache any manager can have. Luckily Lampard has a group of hungry players at his disposal, all of whom will be looking to prove themselves every time they get on the pitch. Predicting a Chelsea starting XI has never been harder, making the Blues an extremely exciting team to follow next season.