The Pride of London
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A balanced assessment of Chelsea’s summer signings

By Joel Kristian Frederick Burton

Chelsea's German striker Timo Werner reacts after having his penalty saved during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in London on January 24, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's German striker Timo Werner reacts after having his penalty saved during the English FA Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in London on January 24, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s German midfielder Kai Havertz (L) vies with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves (R) during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on December 15, 2020. (Photo by TIM KEETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s German midfielder Kai Havertz (L) vies with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves (R) during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on December 15, 2020. (Photo by TIM KEETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Kai Havertz

Games Started: 18

Goals Scored: 5

Assists: 6

It is difficult to pinpoint why Kai Havertz has not stamped his mark on games. Although more is being understood about COVID-19 and how the disease effects even the fittest of people—both in the short and long term—it hard to estimate how much comes down to the impact of the virus and how much is a lack of self-belief.

The statistics available for his performances both pre- and post-contracting COVID—which left him being hit hard by symptoms and bed-ridden for a large part of November—do not show any general improvements or deterioration in his output. Often utilised as a No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 for Bayer Leverkusen last season, Havertz was heralded for positional flexibility and Lampard used him in many different roles, from a No. 6, to right wing, to his favoured No. 10 role against Leicester, all with little success.

He is often thrown in with Werner as a byword for Chelsea’s under performance, but they are two different players expected to perform different duties. Werner is having a bad dry spell in front of goal, but he has still managed to make smart runs and make chances for himself, Havertz meanwhile, has too often had the game pass him by.

For Tuchel, getting good performances from Havertz will be weighted highly when assessing his first half season in charge and could be key to both of their long-term futures at the club. Against Wolves he looked more at ease on the pitch and showed some of his brightest moments in a long time with a strong dribble in the first half. Havertz also used his movement in the box to nearly take all three points at the end with a powerful header. His injury time effort was only to be deflected away by Joao Moutinho. As fans, we can only hope that this is a sign of things to come.

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