Jamie Redknapp has slammed Timo Werner’s contribution to the Chelsea cause in their Carabao Cup final defeat against Liverpool on Sunday.
The Blues were beaten 11-10 on penalties at Wembley following an action-packed 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.
After 21 successful penalties in a row, Kepa Arrizabalaga blasted his effort way over the bar to hand Jurgen Klopp his first domestic cup as Liverpool boss.
Kepa was brought on in the final minute of extra-time by Thomas Tuchel specifically for the shoot-out but missed his attempt after failing to save 11 shots himself.
It was a dramatic end to a brilliant cup final which featured numerous chances and disallowed goals for both sides.
Tuchel’s attempt to find a decisive goal saw him introduce Werner and Romelu Lukaku for Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic in the 74th minute.
Neither managed to make the difference, and although they both scored their penalties, former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp had a cutting assessment of Werner’s ability.
"Chelsea have ended up with Werner on the pitch,” Redknapp said in extra-time on Sky Sports. “I look at him, someone who doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he has that chaos factor."
That chaos factor did not prove enough for the German striker, who failed to find a way past Caoimhin Kelleher to prompt penalties.
Werner has contributed six goals and two assists in 22 appearances for Chelsea this season.
He has 18 goals and 17 assists in 75 appearances altogether for the club since his £47million transfer from RB Leipzig in June 2020.
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Redknapp also had plenty to say on Tuchel’s decision to substitute Edouard Mendy for Kepa before the shoot-out after the first-choice goalkeeper made a string of impressive saves in the match.
"I hope it puts to bed the substitutions now of putting goalkeepers on,” he said.
“Edouard Mendy is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and you bring on Kepa instead of him, ridiculous."
He added: "I didn’t like his behaviour when the penalties were being taken and then he took one of the worst penalties you’ve ever seen.
“I don’t like it, I don’t understand why you do it. You have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, he should’ve stayed in there in the first place."
Tuchel insisted that he had no regrets over the ploy, which he also used successfully in the Super Cup earlier in the season.
"We did it before with Kepa, he is slightly better in penalty saving and that is why I made the decision,” he explained.
“It is unusual [that] all 11 players need to shoot, he took it a bit too quick.
“Sometimes these things can turn against you but you make them when they need to be made, not after when people can judge you.”
