Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has stressed that Kai Havertz does suit a 4-3-3 formation, explaining that he was playing well as a box-to-box midfielder before he was forced to have a period of isolation.
The 21-year-old has been under the spotlight since he joined the Blues in the summer from Bayer Leverkusen, perhaps more than others due to the fact that he cost a mammoth £71million.
Havertz has shown flashes of the form he had in the Bundesliga, but it’s not quite happened so far in the Premier League like he may have hoped and he’s not settled as quickly as some of the other signings a few months into the season now.
The left-footer has played in a couple of different roles at Stamford Bridge and has looked somewhat ineffective as a right-winger, but some of his best performances have come in a number eight midfield area.
With N’Golo Kante at the base of midfield, there can be a great balance to the team with Mason Mount and Havertz slotting just in front of him.
Lampard has defended under-fire playmaker Havertz and has claimed that he does fit well into his team’s current favoured system.
“It does. Before Covid he was playing very well as the right-sided eight but consistency is sometimes a good thing and what I want to get for him,” Lampard responded when asked if Havertz suits a 4-3-3 formation.
“The reaction around him… he had no pre-season, then got Covid and all eyes are on because of the price tag but we need huge perspective here. Not saying it will take a long, long time but he does need time to settle in. For Chelsea fans and us, we must give him time.
With wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech both sidelined recently with injury, Chelsea boss Lampard has had to find solutions in the wide areas.
Havertz has unfortunately been someone tasked with trying to fill the void, but he’s finding it difficult to impact games in that area and can be a bit of a passenger at times.
The Germany international has hit an early bump in the road during his Chelsea career and it will be a big test of his character to see how he responds in the next month.
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