He may have had his ups and downs in west London, but over the last few weeks Kai Havertz has come up massive for a club that was desperate for a boost.
When the Chelsea needs a goal, it calls Kai Havertz. At least that has been the story recently. After going seven straight matches without a goal, the Blues German attacker Havertz has collected three in the last three matches in all competitions. Over this stretch Havertz is not only collecting the goals at a productive rate, but his quality throughout his game is shining. Havertz has attempted more take-ons than his previous 10 matches this season combined.
He is not that go-to No.9 like Gianluca Vialli and Diego Costa once were for CFC, but the German possesses all kinds of traits that have been emphasized during this recent run. His confidence is brimming. He is playing with the sort of swagger that Blues fans want want in a player trying to reshape a rollercoaster career in west London so far. His astounding 10 progressive passes in the Champions League to propel the Blues into the next round were the most his has been able to accumulate in the league and in Europe over 90 minutes in a Chelsea kit.
The Germany man’s celebration in front of Jordan Pickford at Stamford Bridge sums up the confidence level he is playing at right now. From his sensational back-heel against Dortmund to a goal just before halftime at Leicester to bring the momentum back on the side of the west Londoners just before the half, the German has showed in when the team needed him the most. The luck was not on the side for quite an extended period of time. The back of the net was something that had become foreign for this club. Havertz’s was at the center of the Blues revitalizing that consistency, scoring three of the team’s past seven goals in all competitions.
3 goals in 3 matches heading into international break for Kai Havertz with Chelsea dropping two points at home to Everton
Three in as many matches for Kai. 👊 pic.twitter.com/Mhj1f9GKZR
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 18, 2023
With Jorginho out the door, Havertz has taken the responsibility as the club’s go-to penalty taker. It is a massive opportunity for him, and so far, his one mistake from the spot did not hurt the Blues at all. In two out of the last three matches, Havertz has mostly been spotted on the right side of Graham Potter’s front three. It allows him to get involved in the build up play while having a say in the end product as well. Joao Felix controlled the middle of the attack against the Toffees while Mykhailo Mudryk was tasked with that responsibility to begin the match at the King Power Stadium. In both matches, Havertz exchanged places multiple times with the middle man, demonstrating his brilliant awareness to be in the right spot at the correct time.
The Champions League is where the German has been at his best. 10 shot creating actions over the two matches against BVB. That is more than he has been able to collect in the last four Premier League contests combined. When the spotlight becomes even brighter, Havertz has had the tendency to show off the best he has to offer.
After missing two big chances in the first 28 minutes at the Bridge in a must win match in the Champions League, the German international could have sulked the rest of the way. Instead, Havertz scored a stunner in the 38′ to break the deadlock that would not count due to offside. Despite that, once the former Bayer Leverkusen saw his left-footed shot strike the crossbar and find the back of the net, the rest was history. Havertz was then a large part in the build up to the next two goal scoring opportunities including the one finished off by Raheem Sterling that sent the Bridge into a frenzy.
There are so many clips during this recent stretch that highlight how critical Havertz has been in nearly every attempt at goal. From his aerial presence to his passing range, Blues fans have seen the version of Havertz this team needs going forward. He is playing the game in a way that looks both casual, effortless, but determined at the same time. If he is confident, the sky is the limit. The creativity is evidentially there, and this recent stretch has been a perfect example of just how crafty he can be with and without the ball. The hope is this international break does not prevent Havertz from building off this kind of show-stopping play in a blue kit.