Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhüttl has backed Chelsea striker Timo Werner to bounce back from his disappointing run of form and shine in England.
Werner joined Chelsea in a £47.7m deal from RB Leipzig in the summer, with the Blues splashing the cash in search of a proven goalscorer.
That is certainly what they were getting in the German forward, who had shone in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig.
Indeed, last season he was in lethal form, with 34 goals in 45 games in all competitions part of the reason Chelsea were willing to pay out to sign him.
Indeed, his lack of form has raised major questions, with many debating whether he is cut out for life in the Premier League.
Hassenhüttl, who managed Werner at Leipzig, and whom the striker plundered 42 goals in 77 games for, has no such doubts though.
“It was already clear to me that it wasn’t going to be that easy for him,” he told BILD.
“I’ve known Timo for a while, of course, but he didn’t always score with me either.
“In his first year he scored 24 goals because, as we were promoted to the Bundesliga, we didn’t have the ball that much and we were more able to bet on a very fast transition game.
“He shone there. Timo needs a lot of space, but that’s no longer a secret. He has a hard time against teams that don’t give him space.
“A lot of teams defend very deeply against Chelsea and that doesn’t make it easy to find spaces. He scored twice against us and showed his qualities.
“I am convinced that he will prevail at Chelsea. However, it is so – not only in England – that you are criticised very quickly, if you are a top transfer and do not deliver immediately.
“But that’s the lot of the players in this price range and at this level.”
