Thomas Tuchel challenges Kai Havertz as Chelsea manager makes Cristiano Ronaldo admission
Thomas Tuchel has pushed Kai Havertz to find his scoring touch and believes Cristiano Ronaldo may be a source of motivation for the German international, who squandered many huge chances as Chelsea drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Havertz was chosen to lead the Blues’ attack ahead of club-record signing Romelu Lukaku, and he was given three chances to break the deadlock in the first period.
Unfortunately, a combination of bad finishing and David de Gea’s outstanding goalkeeping left the 22-year-old disappointed.
Chelsea thought to be safe from the consequences of those squandered chances until Marcos Alonso volleyed home the opening shortly before the hour mark.
Nonetheless, United, who came into the game in poor form, clawed their way back into the game when Ronaldo was passed through by Nemanja Matic and finished emphatically.
Tuchel believes Havertz needs to duplicate his ruthlessness in the final third in the games ahead.
“He needs to fight back into his shape,” the Chelsea head coach said. “It is like this. Hopefully, he shows a reaction. The guys in the attack are still young and we will not start pointing fingers because lately, they have been very, very composed and very efficient in front of goal. Against Southampton and in the win [over Real Madrid] at the Bernabeu, we took our chances very well and very precisely.
“It’s like this. When we look at the data and think about who plays and who does not play, we see a huge amount of intensity and sprints from Kai and Timo (Werner). So they don’t arrive fully, fully fresh at the moment in these matches and that’s why we will always protect them because it’s a team game we play and we demand a lot off the ball to have high recoveries. But in the last weeks, he had a kind of shape and form that he would’ve put this game to bed for us.”
Tuchel continued: “It’s also time for them [the attacking players] to adapt, there is still a time of adaptation to the rhythm and schedule. The schedule is ruthless for us and still, it’s the moment that they have to adapt to the league, the physicality, the rhythm, the demands. The boys are still young: Mason (Mount) is still young, Timo is still young, Kai is still young.
“It will come., they will learn because they are good guys and have the right attitude. It’s not always easy to arrive fully composed and with the biggest ease because we demand a lot off the counter-pressing, attacking with the first line when the opponents wants to play out. So they have a bit of credit.”
The Chelsea manager was then asked if Ronaldo, who scored from his lone clean chance of the game to secure a point for his team, was someone Havertz could look up to. The German coach responded, saying: “I think many players can look up to the quality, attitude and career of Ronaldo.”
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Thomas Tuchel challenges Kai Havertz as Chelsea manager makes Cristiano Ronaldo admission
