The Blues’ head coach, Thomas Tuchel, has claimed that he was surprised when Timo Werner made a public request for more playing time at Chelsea.
In a recent interview, the 26-year-old reiterated that he “could be happy” at any other club and said he wants to play more in the months leading up to the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The Chelsea team that lost to Charlotte on Thursday morning did not include the German forward as a result.
The manager was pressed over Werner’s comments made during the game, but Tuchel said that Werner’s absence was merely caused by a hamstring problem.
“I’m surprised, I would be very happy as a young guy having a contract at Chelsea Football Club. I would be one of the happiest people on the planet” – Tuchel said.
?️ "If he said this, I do not understand." #CFC boss Thomas Tuchel says he is 'surprised' to hear that Timo Werner could be 'happy' elsewhere. ? pic.twitter.com/wLTtmFUaLS
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 21, 2022
Thomas Tuchel responded to a question about how Werner might get more playing time by saying;
“Show quality, take your place and defend your place. I would be one of the happiest people on the planet having a contract with Chelsea. If he said this, I do not understand.”
Despite the unpredictability, Tuchel stated emphatically that he had no intention of putting Timo Werner up for transfer this summer.
When asked if he will still feature the forward once more in the upcoming season, he responded, “sure, he is our player, sure,”
Werner has struggled to stamp his foot since coming to Chelsea from RB Leipzig in 2020, scoring just 23 goals in 89 games.
Timo Werner has frequently been left out of the starting eleven and Thomas Tuchel has added pressure by bringing in Raheem Sterling from Manchester City.
Werner’s concerns about playing time will obviously get worse after seeing Sterling in his first-game start versus Charlotte, playing on the left side of the front line, which is Werner’s preferred position.