Former manager Glenn Hoddle fears Timo Werner could come back and ‘bite’ his old club were they to sell the misfiring forward in the summer.
The Germany international has largely failed to justify ’s decision to sanction the signing of the 26-year-old nearly two years ago from RB Leipzig.
Werner’s Chelsea career has been largely characterised by erratic finishing, out of keeping with the reputation he established for himself during his Bundesliga career.
Reports last month claimed several Italian clubs were contemplating making a move for Werner in the close season, but Hoddle believes it would be too soon to write off the versatile forward.
Werner was handed a vote of confidence by Thomas Tuchel ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter final second leg, with the holders trailing 3-1 following last week’s disaster at Stamford Bridge.
After a fine individual display in Saturday’s 6-0 win over Southampton, Werner started in attack alongside Mason Mount and Kai Havertz. Hoddle admitted that decision represented a risk, but one that was well worth taking in the circumstances.
He told BT Sport: ‘He’s going to be confident, strikers love scoring goals he’s put the ball in the back of the net against Southampton, he’s on the front foot.
‘If he’s ever got a chance to turn his Chelsea career around it’s going to be a night like this at the Bernabeu and let’s hope he can do it for Chelsea’s sake.
‘I think it’s a risk I’ve got to say but he is one of them for me that if he went to another club he could come back and bite you.
‘I think in another club it could all fall into place for him and he could score a bundle of goals. Let’s hope he can just set himself off as a Chelsea player tonight.’
Explaining his decision to put his faith in Werner, meanwhile, Tuchel said before the game: ‘It’s not only about pace I think the spaces will be different than against Southampton but I don’t know, maybe not.
‘We have to take some risks we want to play a higher line of pressing against the ball and want to have more players closer to the goal to the ball when we attack.
‘We can maybe take advantage of better counter pressing and this is what we try today, Timo is a part of it. He hit three times the post and scored two goals and some assists and hopefully he can keep the momentum and continue.’
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