Frank Lampard believes Chelsea are benefiting enormously from Timo Werner’s decision to forgo the opportunity to play in the latter stages of last season’s Champions League for RB Leipzig.
The Germany international’s goals helped guide the Bundesliga club to the quarter finals, but rather than participate in the knockout tournament in Portugal, Werner opted to seal his move to Chelsea instead.
Werner took his goal tally for the season to seven in all competitions with two penalties in last night’s 3-0 win over Rennes in the Champions League as Lampard’s side moved a step closer to qualification for the next round.
The Chelsea manager had been hoping to give Werner a breather last Saturday but was forced to pick him at the last minute after Christian Pulisic picked up a hamstring injury during the warm-up at Turf Moor.
With the America international likely to be out of action until after the international break, Kai Havertz in self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 and Hakim Ziyech still working his way back to full fitness, it was something of a surprise to see Werner play the entire game against Rennes.
Managers are permitted to make five substitutions in European matches this season, but while the likes of Ziyech and Tammy Abraham were taken off last night, Werner got another 90 minutes under his belt and Lampard is confident the 24-year-old won’t suffer from burnout.
‘I don’t want to get drawn too much on the decision that was Timo’s,’ said Lampard when asked if Werner’s decision to join his new club in June is reaping major dividends.
‘I haven’t broached that one with him personally. What I do know is that the fact he could come and train with us early was a big bonus early. That he could come and adapt to us, adapt to the training, make relationships with the players.
‘We haven’t really had a pre-season so we had the benefit that he could train and had that period with him and Hakim. I think we’re seeing with Timo that he’s fit, adapting quickly to the rigours of the Premier League and working our team out so it was a bonus.
‘He’s been easy for me, easy to manage, he works, plays well, I left him on the pitch today because I feel he’s got the endurance to play 90 minutes and I’m very happy with him.’
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