Thomas Tuchel responds to claims over Timo Werner's 'right' position at Chelsea

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has downplayed Timo Werner’s struggles under Frank Lampard and insisted it was always just a matter of time before he discovered his form.

Werner went 14 Premier League games without a goal until he finally ended that drought against Newcastle United on Monday night, tapping home at the far post to help his side ease to a 2-0 win that lifted them back into the top four.

Chelsea are unbeaten under Tuchel, who took the reins at Stamford Bridge at the end of January, and head to Southampton on Saturday looking to close the gap on third-placed Leicester.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl last month suggested Werner’s problems in front of goal were perhaps due to the Germany international not being played his ‘best position’.

‘He is definitely a player where you have to adapt your game on him. If you do this, he will give you everything you need from a striker,’ the Southampton manager said.

When asked if Hasenhuttl was right in his assessment of the Germany international, Tuchel told reporters on Friday: ‘I didn’t hear what he said so everybody has the right to their own opinion.

‘I think Timo had a very good start and a very clinical and very efficient start at Chelsea under Frank. I could not see any problems, in my opinion it was a big plus and he [Lampard] was a big reason for Timo joining the club, the connection to Frank.

‘So I think that with every player, a change of clubs, a change of environment, a change of culture and league, it takes time.

‘I only speak of how I feel and I feel Timo day by day is gaining confidence and I saw the goal coming because he earned it.

‘Maybe it’s just luck we both come from Germany, maybe there are little percentages that make him more confident than in the moment before.

‘But for me, without a doubt when I watched Chelsea one week before [I joined] there was no doubt Timo would come back from this situation because he has the quality and the quality to play more than one position.’

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