Six games with Chelsea so far and Timo Werner has already found the net three times, and the German can do more if played in the right position. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has observed that Werner mostly operates on the left flank when he is more effective in the middle, which means the striker has yet to reach the optimal level.
Hasselbaink suggested Frank Lampard is playing the 24-year-old wrong. Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, Werner has displayed an impressive form that is worthy of the £51 million price tag. Yet according to Hasselbaink, the forward can do more because he is "the real deal."
Werner scored his first two goals in the Premier League during the Saturday match that saw his side settling for a 3-3 draw against Southampton. Had the striker played a more central role, it would have been a more favorable result for Chelsea.
It seemed unfortunate that Lampard has yet to realize that his summer signing can play at a higher level provided the coach deploys him right, said Hasselbaink.
"He is the real deal ... He is very sharp, he turns the center-back quickly, and there is only one thing in his mind. He is not somebody who likes to play with back to goal," Football London reported the Chelsea legend as saying.
The club hero added Werner is a player who knows what to do on the pitch and it has been the way even when he was still at Bundesliga. Hasselbaink explained that coming from the left, it seemed that Werner has had to deal with restriction as opposed to playing across where he can move with relative ease.
The German thrived with RB Leipzig because his play position with the Bundesliga club allowed him to attack the net with greater efficiency. Werner plays to score goals and Chelsea would benefit if the player is allowed more freedom to do what he does best, Hasselbaink suggested.
The former Chelsea man also addressed the Blues' defensive woes. Lampard's side already cleared 20 goals in all competitions for the season but the club is not on top of the table. Pundits said the team tends to concede scores from the opposition and there lies the problem.
Hasselbaink affirmed the Blues "are leaking too many goals," and if that will continue it's hard to see the club putting up a serious challenge for the Premier League title. He added that Chelsea's most pressing issue involves the center-backs and goalkeeper, per the report from Metro.
If Lampard can solve such problems quickly and then he makes the crucial adjustment on Werner, that is using the striker on a central position in succeeding games, then the chance is higher for Chelsea to make a run for the league crown, said Hasselbaink.
