Thomas Tuchel appears to have invented a new position that is suiting Timo Werner after the German frontman put in one of his better displays in recent weeks during the 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Sunday.
It’s still 15 Premier League games without a goal, one goal in 18 in all competitions, for Werner but he has started three of the four games Thomas Tuchel has been in charge of.
He put in a man of the match display against the Blades as he bagged an assist for Mason Mount’s opener and won the penalty that was converted by Jorginho in the second half.
Werner now has five assists and has won Chelsea seven penalties so far this campaign but obviously he is in the side to score goals, something he isn’t doing.
But the German revealed post-match that Tuchel is employing him as a “left number ten” which is something we certainly haven’t heard before.
Frank Lampard tried wherever he could to fit Werner in but not much worked. Now though, Tuchel has seemingly found a role for the former RB Leipzig man.
“Every manager is different in how he wants us to play,” Werner told the club’s official website.
“He gives us a lot of ideas. Now I play as a left number 10, not a left winger, so I have more space for my runs in the middle and can play behind a striker, or with a number 10 behind me as a second striker.
“So it’s very good for me and I think there were also good moves from the manager in the last two wins.”
One of those moves is to play Werner a bit deeper. He had played as a left, a right, and a centre forward while Lampard was in charge as he desperately tried to shoehorn the £49.5million signing into the side.
Werner’s assist for Mount’s opener came exactly from the “left ten” position Tuchel has designed for him.
The pass from Ben Chilwell was into the path of Werner, who showed the composure to pick out Mount in the middle to sweep home the opening goal of the game.
The forward also showed it against Spurs, as you can see in the image below, where he played slightly narrower and it again led to a chance for Mount but Hugo Lloris was equal to it though Chelsea went on to win the game.
Tuchel has often referred to Werner’s “pure speed” as his biggest asset and by playing him in a slightly different role as a “left ten” it gives Werner the chance to use his lightning pace to run in behind the backline, something he timed expertly for that opening goal against Sheffield United.
It also came in handy when he intercepted Chris Basham’s woefully under hit backpass to win the penalty converted by Jorginho.
There was still no goal for Werner but his performance left his head coach thrilled and insistent that the goals will eventually return for the former Stuttgart striker.
“So he got us the decisive penalty again like in Tottenham, it is clear that the situation in Tottenham gave him a confidence boost and he was a bit unlucky with his shot and chances against them.
“It was good defending from their defenders but he worked incredibly hard and disciplined against the ball. It gave him a boost, I feel him stronger and stronger every day. Today he was more free and I could really feel him on the pitch.
“He was absolutely in the game mentally and physically and he was decisive. This is the most important thing because if he can continue like this. The goals will come, for sure.”
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