Chelsea forward Kai Havertz has admitted that he doesn't 'play like' Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski as the Blues' attacking conundrum continues ahead of the Premier League trip to Everton.
Havertz, 22, as well as having 19 goal contributions and counting in all competitions for the Blues this term, has already won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup since completing his £70million plus move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2020. However in recent games, alongside the rest of the Chelsea attack, he has faltered when having opportunities to add to his ever-growing goal contributions list with the Man United draw a prime example of the development he still has in his game if he is to reach the elite level.
In that game itself, the German squandered numerous opportunities including a one-on-one opportunity that came around in the first half when N'Golo Kante's forward pass dissected the Red Devils' backline. It seemed inevitable that the false 9 would score but his tame effort was saved well by David De Gea. Not taking chances and being clinical enough was the order of the night in Old Trafford as the 22-year-old's mini goal drought stretched to its fifth game ahead of the trip to Goodison Park this Sunday.
READ MORE: Kai Havertz makes audacious Ballon d'Or claim ahead of Everton vs Chelsea in Premier League
"I think many players can look up to the quality, attitude and career of Ronaldo," Tuchel said in his post-match press conference regarding his number 29 potentially looking up to Cristiano Ronaldo as a role model. He went on to add on the decisive edge issue for the whole team: "That is the target to which we work. It's also for them 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." At 22, the sky is still the limit for Chelsea's attacking talismanic figure who has had to shoulder a lot of the responsibility for scoring goals this term due to Romelu Lukaku's deficiencies, but there are still questions as to if the Champions League final goalscorer is the long-term option in the number 9 role.
With it already known that the new ownership structure is set to hold talks with the disgruntled Lukaku, new strikers could be the order of the day as Chelsea have many positions that need filling internally and externally. Especially with the exodus in defence coupled with the refresh required in midfield amid Jorginho to Juventus links.
Forwards will only be recruited by the look of it if members of the current cohort, like the £97.5m club-record signing, demand an early exit. Coupled with this, Havertz's Lewandowski admission may prompt Marina Granovskaia to seek out the next number 9 with more than £300million already spent on trying to find Didier Drogba's permanent successor with only Diego Costa proving his money's worth so far as an out and out striker.
"I would say yes and no. I played a lot of positions in the last couple of years, now it is no. 9. I play there in the national team. I guess it's a good position for me, I like to play there as well," Havertz reflected on his best position question to Stadium Astro.
"Of course I am not a typical no. 9, I don’t play like Lewandowski. I like the position and I like to be creative, be in the box, and score goals. I have a lot of other strengths as well, not only no.9. I think it’s a good position at the moment."
Just how Chelsea and Tuchel would have loved to have had the 48 goals the Polish international has netted so far this term in a Blues shirt rather than the red of the Bavarians.
Chelsea fans- where do the club go next in terms of the striker conundrum? Could someone internally like Armando Broja be the answer? Leave your thoughts in the comments section!
