A magnitude of outside expectation bank upon Kai Havertz coming of age so quickly, his permanent role within the Chelsea system is now up for debate.
Football is a frosty business. Blink and you can go from the Bundesliga’s brightest pupil, the disciple to take Germany into a new era and the Premier League’s desperately sought after student to a rotten apple, an expensive distraction and a problem in the classroom. This has been the external perception of Kai Havertz‘s short stay in England from segments of the media, depicting his tantalizing move from Bayer Leverkusen as more boot camp than summer holiday.
Granted, the 21-year-old has not insanely impressed in his new school, struggling to settle in his surroundings, not improved at all by contracting Coronavirus last month. Broadcasters have latched upon this by tying Havertz’s personal problems to Chelsea’s wider issues on the field. Hours after the Blues suffered their second successive defeat, Sky Sports responded with an article deconstructing Havertz’s form and what steps Frank Lampard might take to alter the fortunes of the club’s record purchase for an outfielder.
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Jamie Carragher also raised the query following the Blues 2-0 loss to Liverpool in September, pondering where was Havertz’s chief position in this system. Being beaten by the reigning champions spurred Chelsea onto a 17 match unbeaten run, with very little negativity surfacing about the German international and his involvement. Two disappointing performances at Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers later, and the inquiries begin to thicken again. Despite his manager, his squad mates and fans showing support to Havertz, it does reiterate the question laid by Carragher and Sky: where would he benefit best in Chelsea’s set up?
His hotly anticipated arrival in England sparked a great discussion about his strengths, noticeably his ability to score and assist from virtually anywhere in midfield. As a benefactor himself, this versatile contribution would have been music to Lampard’s ears. However, Havertz is in fact suffering from this ambidexterity, unable to anchor down one spot in the forward line-up.
An obvious avenue would be to play him centrally as one of three behind the striker, increasing his output by allowing him the freedom to express himself closer to the opposition net. This was the method during the early stages of the season, conjuring a fine display and a hat-trick from Havertz against Barnsley, plus his only league goal to date in the 3-3 draw with Southampton.
The exception to this was the game against Liverpool when Lampard strangely decided to deploy Havertz as a false nine with Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham on the bench. Andreas Christensen’s dismissal on the stroke of halftime meant the Chelsea boss was forced to re-shuffle his pack, with Havertz replaced during the interval by Jorginho.
Instead of continuing with the 4-2-3-1 that was getting some output from the Havertz, Lampard reverted back to a 4-3-3, wanting greater productivity from his wide men, but also to occupy N’Golo Kante and Mason Mount into their natural stations. With the pair in comfortable conditions, Havertz dropped deeper as one half of a dual eight system with Mount, possessing good energy and work rate but lacking in the creative department.
With his formation settled upon, Lampard then began to rearrange his furniture, alternating Havertz from a right-central midfielder to a right-wing/forward without either portraying much positivity. What is seemingly out of the question is to start the £71 million signing on the bench. That figure in itself gives the reason behind the reluctance to exclude him from the starting line-up; the most expensive substitute in world football is not a title Havertz, nor Roman Abramovich, would be keen upon landing.
Yet, his influence may be better suited when sides are weary, using his energy to unlock defenses rather than track runners. His movements would be less traced by defenders, his runs less anticipated. And above all, it would give him a period away from the spotlight. Allow others to graft and grind, if only so Havertz can swoop in to save the day.
Either build the boy’s confidence up, or build the team around the boy. Lampard has denied the latter, constantly aware of the other priceless possessions he needs to keep happy. Why not nurture his minutes for now, and hopefully Havertz’s rightful place on the field will arise.