Chelsea midfielder Kai Havertz scored two goals in Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League victory over Fulham and the German said he hopes to retain his place in the starting line-up for the team’s midweek Uefa Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Havertz joined Chelsea during the close season from Bayer Leverkusen and has struggled to justify his £71m (R1.4bn) price tag, but the 21-year-old handed manager Thomas Tuchel a timely reminder of his quality.
He did not play in Chelsea’s 1-0 league win over West Ham United and was a substitute in their 1-1 Champions League draw with Madrid in the first leg of their semifinal last week. The return leg is at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Having helped Chelsea tighten their grip on fourth place in the league, Havertz said that he was desperate for more starts. “This win is crucial for us and now on Wednesday another tough game,” Havertz told Sky Sports. “It felt good to score early, that gave me confidence. For me, it’s always good to score and I’m happy to help the team with goals. I hope I can continue on Wednesday like this.
“I’m always desperate to start games. I know of course that we have a lot of quality players in the team, but I keep on going, I train hard and give my best when I'm on the pitch.”
I’m always desperate to start games. I know of course that we have a lot of quality players in the team, but I keep on going, I train hard and give my best when I'm on the pitch.
— Chelsea's Kai Havertz
After the Madrid game, Chelsea will take on league leaders Manchester City on Saturday and Havertz said the tight schedule was hard on players in the home stretch of the campaign. “You have to concentrate every three days on another game and another competition. It’s the end of the season and we’ve played nine months now already,” Havertz said. “But that's the reason we are professionals.”
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho said he does not expect to return to management next season after his dismissal by Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and will wait for the right club with the right culture.
The former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United boss was sacked by Tottenham after 17 months in charge of the London club and six days before their 1-0 League Cup final defeat by Manchester City.
The 58-year-old is in no rush to get back in the hot seat at another club and is set to work as an analyst during this year’s European Championship.
“I have no plans. I'm going on with my normal life. I feel fresh. I feel calm. I’m on holiday. I have more time to be doing my homework and analysis,” Mourinho said in an interview with Times Magazine.
“I’ll wait to be back in football. Not just for the right club, but for the right culture. Maybe next season is premature, we will see.”
— Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.