Thomas Tuchel has challenged Timo Werner to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League, despite the German ending his lengthy goal drought against Southampton.
Werner bagged a brace in Chelsea's romping 6-0 win at St Mary's, his first league goals since October, and also hit the woodwork three times as Ralph Hasenhuttl's Saints put in a tired and laboured performance on the south coast.
26-year-old Werner has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot this term, attracting strong criticism for his lack of cutting edge in front of goal, and despite scoring twice, Tuchel was fairly blunt in his assessment of his season to date - detailing after the game where the former RB Leipzig striker must improve if he's to be a success at Stamford Bridge.
"Yeah, but it would have been a long talk from October until April," Tuchel quipped when asked if he'd tried to motivate and lift Werner's spirits.
"At some point there are no words, you must help yourself. You sign up for Chelsea or a top club you have to live up to it and accept the pressure that comes with it. You have to help yourself in training and you come on the pitch as a substitute. You have to be ready when the chance comes to be there and this is what he did.
"But he still needs to learn to adapt through moments like this because he used to play regularly and used to teams built for him and he played for a transition team before.
"He needs to adapt to the physicality still of the league and it is a process. The process isn't finished but it was a big step in the right direction."
It wasn't all doom and gloom for Werner, with Tuchel admitting that he was pleased with elements of his display against Southampton.
"He looked confident today, he took the chance that he got," Tuchel remarked. "There were a lot of things made for him and his style of play and it suited him very well. He took the chance and he made his point. He could have scored more.
"These are the types of performances that strikers need and we need from the strikers. It is a give and take."
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Source : 90min