Arsenal legend Ian Wright has labelled Timo Werner an 'unlucky' striker after the German arguably put in his best performance of the season on the South Coast as Chelsea hit six past Southampton.
Werner, 26, netted his third and fourth goals scored against Ralph Hasenhuttl's out of sought Saints who took inspiration from Chelsea's defending shown midweek against Real Madrid in the Champions League. It allowed the Blues' attacking line to have a field day and the £50million man finally came clutch after a frustrating season to date had led to questions over his long-term future come the summer with interest swirling from around the European Leagues in recent times.
His football.london player rating at St Mary's read: "If only the German forward could play Southampton every week. Werner struck the woodwork three times at St Mary's and also had a good chance denied by Forster, but he also managed to find the back of the net on two occasions. The first came after he was given the entire Southampton half to run into, and the second was a close-range finish. Werner has now scored more Premier League goals against Southampton (5) than every other top-flight side (4), but whether he starts on Tuesday night is debatable. 8." These were comments reciprocated by manager Thomas Tuchel who admitted that this contest was set for him to 'deliver' and give the fans a rare glimpse of what he was like in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig.
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"Of course. It was his position, it was the players around him, the connection with Mason (Mount), Kai (Havertz) and Mateo (Kovacic). He loves to play and he has a connection with these players. He was in a double striker position, the half left position, and it was against an opponent that we could imagine we'd find spaces in behind because they play a high attack," Tuchel said in his post-match press conference.
"So it was set out for him to deliver, honestly. We were not set out in a 4-1-4-1 with him on the side, everything was there for him to deliver and make a statement that he has not given up, that he is still an important player of this club and this group. And he did. It was necessary, very strong, but necessary."
Despite these two goals scored this weekend, it is unlikely as it stands that the German is given a start at the Bernabeu on Tuesday due to his overall form throughout the season which has been labelled as 'unlucky' by Wright. Summing up Werner's performance on BBC's Match of the Day, the former Premier League striker explained: "Yeah it's good to see and Southampton play with a high line so it suited him well. He's so unlucky as a striker. He's one of the most unlucky strikers I've seen.
"He hit the post early on and hit the bar too with an effort which he should have used his forehead there. Any other striker in that situation, it probably comes off his head and goes in but it doesn't. This is the kind of goal (his first goal and Chelsea's third of the game) he would score at Leipzig. Running through the high line, going around the keeper and finishing really well.
"This one (Havertz's first and the Blues' fourth of the game), he's done so well to go past three players and bam, he hits the post but Kai Havertz was there to finish off. Then he gets a tap in of his own. I'm delighted for him. He's someone I want to see score goals because he's someone who never stops working and he never stops trying, so I'm pleased when he does get his goal. He just needs to play Southampton every week."
