Jamie Carragher said Chelsea are a stronger team without Kai Havertz, as he questioned where the Germany international would fit in Frank Lampard’s system.
The 21-year-old did not make the starting line-up against West Ham on Monday after two consecutive starts in the previous two games.
Lampard opted to go with Jorginho instead at the base of the midfield three, with Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante in front of him.
Carragher didn’t seem surprised by Lampard’s decision.
“At this moment he [Havertz] is finding it tough,” the former Liverpool defender told Sky Sports (via Football Daily).
“It hasn’t been easy coming to a new country. Obviously, he had Covid earlier in the season.
“But I said it earlier in the season, sometimes players fall into that category where you’re not sure quite where they fit in.
“I think Frank, he’s still not quite sure himself where he fits in.
“He spent a lot of money on him, so you’ve got to try and find a place for him in some ways.
“But for me, right now, Chelsea look a lot stronger with Kante, Mount and one other and when I say one other I mean either Jorginho or Kovacic.
“It’s Jorginho tonight in that midfield, and it looks a lot stronger to me.”
Carragher believes Lampard sees 4-3-3 as his long-term system at Chelsea and it might not suit Havertz.
As the Germany international said himself, he prefers to play as a No.10 – and there is no No.10 in 4-3-3.
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