Takeaways from Chelsea’s convincing Bournemouth win: necessary business

Kai Havertz is still the key to consistent success

Heading into the season, there was no player that had more pressure on themselves than German international, Havertz. Having signed for the Blues from the German top-flight for more than £70 million, there were plenty of high expectations for the potential of this young attacking player. Other than his Champions League-winning goal, there were not many standout displays from Havertz during his CFC tenure.

Playing as a false nine, and dropping into the midfield at times, Havertz used both his vision and creativity to put on a confidence-building outing right out of a disappointing World Cup with Germany. The German has scored two of the last three goals for the Blues in the Premier League and picked off right where he left off with his national team after netting two goals in their final group-stage game in just 24 minutes of play.

Christopher Nkunku is still not in west London, and while the Blues await his arrival, they are going to have to rely a whole lot more on performances in the false nine from Havertz like this consistently. With the way he checks to the ball, and also finds a way to get in and behind backlines, the defense has a seemingly insurmountable job to mark him for 90 minutes consistently when he is at the top of his game.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is currently not in the goal-scoring form he would like to be in, having not scored a goal since October 11 against AC Milan, so CFC is going to have to rely on Havertz in both the finishing department and in setting the players around him up for success inside the box. He may not be the most perfect player, but Havertz is without question the player that is going to define this season for the Blues as a success or a failure.