Kai Havertz sends a brilliant message to Graham Potter about a role and Aubameyang’s job at Chelsea
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Chelsea news: Kai Havertz scored twice for Germany in their thrilling six-goal Nations League match against England on Monday evening at Wembley Stadium, delighting Graham Potter.
There wasn’t a lot riding on England’s Nations League match against Germany on Monday night.
The Three Lions had already been demoted after their defeat in Italy on Friday evening, and Germany had failed to qualify for the finals. The countries’ rivalry ensured that it would never be a dull match, and it proved to be so, particularly for Graham Potter.
The new Chelsea manager was undoubtedly watching the game somewhere, and he would have been pleased with what he saw at Wembley. Potter saw Raheem Sterling, Reece James, Mason Mount, and Kai Havertz all play, with Ben Chilwell an unused replacement.
The Germans seized the lead on 52 minutes when Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan scored from the penalty spot. Havertz then increased the visitors’ advantage at Wembley with a spectacular left-footed drive from beyond the area that gave Pope no chance. It was set up by his former Chelsea teammate Timo Werner, but it was all about Havertz’s brilliance.
England subsequently responded with a goal from Luke Shaw, who was set up by James. Chelsea’s right-back found the Manchester United defender with a beautiful ball to the back post.
Just minutes thereafter, Mount equalized for the Three Lions. After some nice work by Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, the Chelsea forward blasted the ball first time into the corner from the edge of the area. It was Mount’s first goal for club or country this season.
England was then awarded a penalty, which Harry Kane beautifully converted, with many believing that would be enough for the home team to win the game. However, after Pope made a mistake in the England goal, Havertz was there to tap the ball in quickly to ensure the points were split.
So, two goals by Havertz, one by Mount, and a fantastic assist by James. Potter will take a lot from the game ahead of this weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace, but he will be especially delighted with Havertz’s contribution.
So far this season, the 23-year-old has not been at his best for Chelsea. In truth, he has only one goal for Chelsea – the winner in the Blues’ most recent Premier League match, a 2-1 victory over West Ham United.
He has been deployed as a center-forward for the bulk of the season, but the addition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appears to change that. Havertz can and possibly prefers to play in one of the slots behind the primary striker.
However, in Potter’s first match as Chelsea manager, Havertz was utilized up forward with Aubameyang in a 3-5-2 shape. It’s a formation Potter utilized frequently when in charge at Brighton, and it’s one Chelsea fans are likely to see more of during their new manager’s time in west London.
Potter, on the other hand, utilized the 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 configuration at the Amex Stadium, which Thomas Tuchel made famous while at Chelsea. This typically signifies that there are two number 10s behind the central striker.
Havertz started the encounter as Germany’s main striker, but in the second half, Hansi Flick reshuffled his lineup and the Chelsea forward fell deeper. Havertz was quiet in the first half, but he improved dramatically after switching back to the number 10 position.
He got to see a lot more of the ball. Of course, Germany played much better in the second half than they did in the first, so that would have had a factor, but Havertz grew into the game when he was in the number 10 role.
On Saturday afternoon, Chelsea travel to London rivals Crystal Palace in what will be Potter’s debut Premier League encounter in command of the Blues. It would be intriguing to see whether England’s 3-3 tie with Germany had any bearing on his team selection.
Over the two-week vacation, Aubameyang, who retired from international action with Gabon earlier this year, has been able to work closely with his new employer. He might start at nine against the Eagles, but it will be interesting to watch if Havertz is utilized beside or behind the former Arsenal captain.
It might be one of those in-game adjustments like we saw Flick do against England on Monday. In any case, the opening 20 or so minutes against Dinamo Zagreb, where Havertz was also utilized in a deeper role, and Monday’s Nations League encounter hint at the German being dropped back behind the striker.
