Thomas Tuchel has challenged Kai Havertz to rediscover his goalscoring touch and says Cristiano Ronaldo can be a source of inspiration for the German international, who missed several big chances as Chelsea played out a frustrating 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Havertz was chosen to lead the Blues' attack ahead of club-record signing Romelu Lukaku and was presented with three opportunities to break the deadlock in the opening period of the contest. Unfortunately, a combination of poor finishing and strong goalkeeping from David de Gea meant the 22-year-old was left frustrated.
It briefly appeared as though those missed chances wouldn't prove costly for Chelsea as Marcos Alonso volleyed home the opening just before the hour mark. Yet United, who went into the game in dismal form, found a way back into the game when Ronaldo was put through by Nemanja Matic and finished emphatically.
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And it's that ruthlessness in the final third that Tuchel says Havertz needs to emulate in the games ahead. "He needs to fight back into his shape," the Chelsea head coach said. "It is like this. Hopefully, he shows a reaction. The guys in the attack are still young and we will not start pointing fingers because lately, they have been very, very composed and very efficient in front of goal. Against Southampton and in the win [over Real Madrid] at the Bernabeu, we took our chances very well and very precisely.
"It's like this. When we look at the data and think about who plays and who does not play, we see a huge amount of intensity and sprints from Kai and Timo (Werner). So they don't arrive fully, fully fresh at the moment in these matches and that's why we will always protect them because it's a team game we play and we demand a lot off the ball to have high recoveries. But in the last weeks, he had a kind of shape and form that he would've put this game to bed for us."
Tuchel continued: "It's also time for them [the attacking players] to adapt, there is still a time of adaptation to the rhythm and schedule. The schedule is ruthless for us and still, it's the moment that they have to adapt to the league, the physicality, the rhythm, the demands. The boys are still young: Mason (Mount) is still young, Timo is still young, Kai is still young.
"It will come., they will learn because they are good guys and have the right attitude. It's not always easy to arrive fully composed and with the biggest ease because we demand a lot off the counter-pressing, attacking with the first line when the opponents wants to play out. So they have a bit of credit."
The Chelsea boss was then asked if Ronaldo, who scored from his only clear chance of the contest and ensured his side claimed a point, was someone that Havertz could look up to. The German coach replied: "I think many players can look up to the quality, attitude and career of Ronaldo."
