Heir to the Chelsea King: What’s next for Kai Havertz?

A sharp run and finish, an unfiltered conversation which followed; Kai Havertz could not have imagined that by the end of a truly magnificent night, his name would be etched into history books. The life of a footballer can change just that quickly.

When the dust settled in Porto, Havertz found himself in the glorious company of the king himself. No other man had had an impact as big as Didier Drogba in the history of the Chelsea Football Club, that is until Havertz came along. Not in his wildest imaginations would the German have thought of ending the season as a European champion.

Yet, Chelsea chose Havertz, and Havertz chose Chelsea for that exact purpose. Sensing an opportunity unlike any other, the Blues moved to bring the lanky forward to London. They didn’t have any need for him, but they understood that chances like these don’t present themselves twice. Therefore, Havertz arrived in London last summer with a big price tag and even bigger expectations.

Had the ball not hit the back of Ederson’s net in Portugal, Havertz might still be viewed as a failure within and outside the Chelsea fan base—as he was for most of the campaign. It did, and in a moment, Chelsea and Havertz’s seasons were turned upside-down. Prying our minds away from the joyful memories of the night, we focus and look to the future. As we’re sure the German must be asking himself at this very moment, he’s won the Champions League, so what next?

The past and the future

We could go on waxing lyrical about Havertz and his impact on the history of this football club, but it is unwise to spend too much time dwelling in the past. Champions look to the future, to their next challenge. We will too.

What are the challenges facing Havertz? What challenges did the German overcome this season alone? The answer to the second question is a long one. The youngster did not hit the ground running—far from it. As if the challenges of a compressed campaign without a pre-season weren’t enough, Havertz had to deal with COVID infections, injuries and managerial changes. By the time he began to hit his stride, the season was in its final stretch, and the youngster was being viewed as a disappointment. If there is one thing football utterly lacks in these times, it’s patience.

He might have shed the tag of being a disappointment for the moment, but the 21-year-old must know by now that that badge rarely falls far away. It waits in the shadows, in the drafts of apathetic followers waiting for a mistake before firing a venomous tweet towards the player. The only way to avoid it is to keep moving forward. Nevertheless, improvements need to be made, as we’re sure the player is aware.