Thomas Tuchel has revealed that he left Timo Werner out of the Chelsea starting XI against Manchester United because he felt the forward needed a break.
Werner, who made his debut for the Blues in September after moving from RB Leipzig, started alongside Olivier Giroud in the 1-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday and had started 29 of the team's 37 matches in all competitions this season before Sunday's game, featuring in 34 of them.
However Tuchel, who before the match suggested that his possession-based style was not playing to Werner's strengths, opted to bring in Hakim Ziyech against the Red Devils, with the Dutchman partnering Mason Mount behind Giroud.
Werner did replace Ziyech on 78 minutes and had a good chance to win the game as it finished goalless.
Speaking after his side missed the chance to leapfrog West Ham and move back into the top four, Tuchel explained why the 24-year-old had been dropped.
'We had the feeling to give Timo a little break, to have him from the bench and also fresh for the fixture against Liverpool,' he said. 'I felt him a little bit tired after many games in a row.'
Werner has started all seven games in which he has featured since Tuchel's arrival. Of the matches he didn't play, he was on the bench for the former Paris Saint-Germain head coach's opening game in charge against Wolves and was left out of the squad against Barnsley on February 11 to conserve his energy for the run-in.
Unfortunately for the £47.5million signing, the goalscoring struggles that became a real issue under Frank Lampard have continued since his successor was appointed, with Werner's only goal under Tuchel so far coming against Newcastle earlier this month, which ended a run of 14 Premier League games without a goal in the process.
Werner had the perfect opportunity to double his tally under Tuchel after being brought on in the closing stages against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, but he needed to be more determined to get on the end of James' lovely cross, with Tuchel screaming at Werner to throw himself at the ball.
Werner now has just five goals in 25 league games this season and will hope to be given another opportunity to make it six when Chelsea travel to Liverpool on Wednesday, with a draw taking Tuchel's side temporarily above the Hammers.
ChelseaFCaddict
281
Haters expected Chelsea FC to lose against Manchester United because Thomas Tuchel is only one month old at Old Trafford and ole and Manchester United have been over 2years together but the mistake that haters and rivals did was to forget that Chelsea fc has got experienced players and clever players who are able to play better under different managers in a short space of time. To be honest i didn't see the difference between the teams in terms of how long each team had be led by their manager so. Yeah Defensively i am pleased as a Chelsea FC , Tuchel was able to stop Manchester United counterattacks and for that Marcus Rashford was ineffective , Kante Is still the best he waa able to deal with Bruno Fernandes so well without even man marking him wow the guy is intelligent. i was happy with how he ran back to disrupt scot mcto cross with ease , what about when he let Rashford to control the ball with his thigh (first touch) only for him to kick the ball away before Rashford shoots 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Kante is important the guy can sport danger and he's so short but hey he pocketed Manchester United attack last night. Good game bt Chelsea FC now we go for Liverpool