Chelsea players are open to paying travel expenses. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel has provided his verdict on the performance from Kai Havertz as Chelsea got the better of Lille by a 2-0 scoreline. His team handily saw off the Ligue 1 holders at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
The Blues manager had dropped Romelu Lukaku to the bench and instead opted to play Havertz as his lone striker. The change was close to being rewarded straight away as the 22-year-old failed to find the net from a cross from Cesar Azpilicueta very early in the match. The forward had another chance to score around the fifth-minute mark, but the shot was saved brilliantly by Leo Jardim.
Nevertheless, the attacker opened the scoring from the resulting corner, taken by Hakim Ziyech. The German’s performance would certainly be a major boost, considering how Ziyech was the only one pulling the strings in recent matches.
The former Bayer Leverkusen ace’s display certainly gives a sigh of relief since the Moroccan has suffered an unfortunate injury during the victory.
Speaking in the post-match presser (h/t Football.London), Tuchel has expressed that he is happy with the Blues attacker after the excellent display. He added that the forward was involved in all areas, and his work effort was “immense”.
“I’m very pleased. Kai is very strong for weeks now, really steps up. His effort is immense, the work rate is immense, the areas of the pitch he covers for us is very, very good. He was decisive, created chances, was involved, and was never shy of defending.”
The 48-year-old coach could well have found a temporary solution up front given Romelu Lukaku’s form in front of goal. While Havertz isn’t a natural out-and-out number 9, he has certainly done that in the past and can do a decent job with sufficient movement around him.
That was the case in the early stages of the first half against Lille, as we were fluid in our build-up which gradually resulted in us taking control over the match. Perhaps, we could see more of the same moving forward given Havertz’s eye for scoring big-game goals.
The question in the mind of every Chelsea fan would now be if Tuchel goes with Lukaku for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool this Sunday. The Belgian hitman is arguably one of the top PL strikers when it comes to making his presence felt inside the box.
He may not be the most lethal passer of the football in the world but he is certainly the man you would want competing for an aerial cross and on the end of your set-piece deliveries. Havertz, on the other hand, is an all-round attacking midfielder.
He is an able dribbler, a skilled passer, and as he has shown in the recent past, a quality finisher. Tuchel could even field both of them on the pitch, and only time will tell what our starting XI looks like on that day.
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