Frank Lebouef was glad to see Kai Havertz reach something close to his full potential during Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, speaking on ESPN FC.
Havertz sparkled at Selhurst Park as Thomas Tuchel’s team tore apart their Premier League London rivals.
He netted the Blues opener in elegant fashion and probably should have scored a couple more to boost his goal tally.
But it was the 21-year-old’s all-round play that was impressive, linking up excellently with Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic to pierce through Palace defence.
It was the type of performance many have been anticipating since Havertz signed for Chelsea last summer for £71m (BBC Sport).
Lebouef had eagerly awaited this display for some time and was pleased to see the German international finally flexing his footballing muscles.
The former Blues defender said: “I know what he’s (Havertz) capable of and I know he’s capable of better than that.
“Tuchel said after the game that Havertz had finally showed the world what he’s capable of.
“I knew it, because I saw him do it for his former club. He was doing great. For the first time yesterday, I saw from him what I was expecting from him.
“I was very pleased with his performance. But we all talk about consistency when we talk about football, so he will have to repeat that many, many times.”
That strike against Palace was only the second league goal Havertz had scored all season and just his sixth for Chelsea.
All manner of reasons has been behind his slow start to life in Stamford Bridge, but he is beginning to look like the player who dazzled at Bayer Leverkusen.
His role as an auxiliary centre-forward seems to suit his skills to the ground, especially with creative forces like Mount and Pulisic providing him with killer passes.
Tuchel will now demand Havertz push on from that Palace win and end this campaign on a high.
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