The German forward has struck just three
times for Chelsea since the start of November and missed a clear-cut
opportunity for Germany in their shock 2-1 home defeat to North Macedonia
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Timo Werner will start for
Chelsea tomorrow against West Bromwich Albion and is adamant the forward will
rediscover his goalscoring touch in the weeks ahead.
Werner has struck just twice for the Blues since November 8 and missed
a late gilt-edged opportunity in midweek for Germany in their shock 2-1 home
defeat to North Macedonia.
The 25-year-old’s struggles in front of goal this term is fry cry
to the form which he displayed during his time at RB Leipzig. Werner netted 95
times in 159 games for the Bundesliga side before joining Chelsea last summer
in a deal worth £49.5million.
“I am happy that he is back here
because he is protected here,” Tuchel said. “We demand a lot from him and get a
lot from him. The best thing is to look at the situation honestly, not focus on
the bad things, but look at it honestly.
“Yes, he is in a moment where he lacks confidence and where
things are not too easy. The ball simply does not work out like it usually works
out. But he works hard for us.
“If this is the most critical point of his career so far,
look at the data, look at the statistics. He still scores for us, he is giving
assists, he is winning decisive penalties.
“So if this is the most critical point in his career, you
can accept it and say, ‘OK it’s pretty impressive so far’. I trust and I hope
that he does the same, I talk to him about it.
“This guy has been scoring since he was like five years old.
He never stopped. So he can trust that his brain and his body remember what to
do that because it is absolutely usual for him to score. So it will come back,
it is just a matter of time. But it is much easier said than done.”
Werner admitted last month in an
interview with BBC Sport that his inability to find the back of the net
regularly had been “very tough” simply because he had never previously
experienced a goal drought in his career.
Such introspection can be important for a player but Tuchel
insists Werner doesn’t need to overthink his situation at Chelsea or try to
overexert himself in training.
“It is the moment not to think about it, not to read about
it, not to even train extra,” the Blues head coach said. “Yesterday I sent him
in from training because he wanted to do some finishing with us. I just sent
him in.
“I said you don’t need that, your body your brain knows how
to score. You did it since you were six years old so don’t worry, it will come.
If a woman does not want to go out with you for dinner, you cannot force her
to. So just step a little bit back. Maybe she will call you.”
Tuchel added: “It is very easy for me to say because we
aren’t out there and everybody is pointing fingers at him, but this is the
challenge right now. This is how I see it. He will start tomorrow and here we
go.”
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