Timo Werner issues defiant self-defence as he debunks Chelsea exit talk
Timo Werner has reiterated that he is in it for the long haul at Chelsea despite admitting to one of his “unluckiest” seasons.
Werner struggled to live up to his price tag after a big-money move from RB Leipzig to Chelsea last summer. His debut campaign in the Premier League ended with just six goals from 35 appearances. Admittedly, he also provided eight assists, but he was brought in to score first and foremost.
In that regard, he has not lived up to expectations and it has led to questions of his future. Chelsea have been linked with strikers like Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski or Romelu Lukaku to usurp Werner in the hierarchy.
But the Germany international seems unfazed and has confirmed to the Telegraph that he sees a brighter future for himself at Stamford Bridge.
When asked if his long-term future remains with Chelsea, Werner said: “Of course.
“In terms of scoring and missing chances, it was the worst season. But in the end I still have 27 goal contributions.
“I think I’m the first in our team for that, so it was not everything bad and I don’t think about leaving the club this year, for sure not, and also for the next year because I think we have a very good team and I hope to come back to scoring and that I can do everything that’s expected of me.”
While admitting he had positives to take, Werner acknowledged that the expectations upon him in terms of goalscoring should be higher.
He continued: “I think a lot of people’s expectations for me, outside the club but also inside the club, were very high because of my goalscoring record.
“I also assisted many goals last year in my old club. But I think the main reason why they brought me here in the club is to score and maybe at the end 12 goals and six goals in the Premier League, that’s not good enough.
“You have to say that I have 12 goals and 15 assists or something like that in every competition and 27 goal contributions; that’s not so bad in what’s maybe my unluckiest season, maybe my worst season I’ve had for many years.
“If I’m scoring next season, hopefully, maybe people will become happier with me.”
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Werner talks Tuchel training
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has previously revealed that he denied Werner the opportunity to take extra training when the striker was short of confidence.
It was a different approach to what other managers may have used in a similar situation. But Tuchel will be hoping Werner benefits from it.
Werner said: “No he didn’t [let me do extra practice]. I had a lot of managers when it was not so easy to score say, ‘OK, come, we practice outside to give you a better feeling’.
“But also there is Thomas who says, ‘you scored your whole life. But it doesn’t come because you practice every day; it comes because you were calm, you had your head free, and you know what you do because you have this instinct to score’.”
READ MORE: Tuchel says Chelsea man has excuse for poor stat in Liverpool, Man Utd nod
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