Back in the summer transfer window, it was Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich who personally pressed for the signing of Kai Havertz. He thought the Germany international would fit seamlessly into Frank Lampard’s side at Stamford Bridge, having flourished in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last season. However, the playmaker’s latest showing in the Premier League against Wolves suggests the Russian may have misjudged that situation.
Chelsea entered their match against Wolves at Molineux looking to bounce back after a 1-0 defeat to Everton last time out.
They scored the opening goal of the game in the midlands, with Olivier Giroud striking shortly before half time.
However, Chelsea capitulated to give the home side all three points.
Daniel Podence struck for the home side in the 66th minute, with Pedro Neto then scoring at the death to secure victory.
On social media after the game, Chelsea fans were furious. And they appeared to hone in on Havertz, who produced another drab display.
“Havertz disasterclass today! And Werner. Only Reece James, Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, and Matteo Kovacic that’s it! Playing well,” said one.
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“Werner and Havertz were absolute DISASTERS today,” said a second.
And a third said: “We got lucky looking good vs relegation sides and having a decent defence. Any competent manager gets Werner and Havertz playing well in their real positions.”
Before the game, Lampard pleaded for patience when it comes to Havertz.
But the Germany international looked as lost as ever amid the heat of the battle against Wolves and it was no surprise he was taken off.
It means that, 13 games into the new season, Chelsea fans are still waiting to see the best from the former Leverkusen star.
He’s not found the net in any competition since the 3-3 draw with Southampton back in October.
And, after winning Abramovich round with his creative instincts, a return of two assists from his last nine matches simply isn’t good enough.
When Chelsea signed Havertz, they were sure they were onto a winner.
It was Abramovich, rather than Lampard, who pushed for the signing. But that decision looks to have backfired, with the playmaker operating nowhere near at the level he should be.
And whether he can now turn things around remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, talkSPORT host Adrian Durham has expressed a belief that Havertz could become the ‘new Mesut Ozil’.
“I look at Kai Havertz, and I think sooner rather than later – unless something special happens from him – he is going to get an unwanted tag of being the new Mesut Ozil,” he said.
“It will be because he’s German, obviously, but also because of how he plays and where he plays, and if he isn’t impacting games more than he is now, he’s going to have a real problem shaking that tag.
“I watched him at Burnley and he was exceptional, with [Mason] Mount playing slightly deeper in that game, but for me there is a confusion about Mount and Havertz.
“Mount is doing everything he should be doing and doing it really well, but Havertz is looking at him saying, ‘well, if he is doing all that what am I meant to be doing?’.
“Mount is doing everything Havertz should be doing, so he might be confused in the same way [Timo] Werner is confused.”