Timo Werner hindered by Mason Mount’s key role at Chelsea according to Merson

Add as preferred source on Google

Paul Merson said Mason Mount’s being the focal point of attack under new manager Thomas Tuchel is a problem for Chelsea teammate Timo Werner.

One goal in the last 20 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea. It is quite unbelievable, but that is Werner’s goalscoring record at the moment.

Obviously, the 24-year-old still bagged four assists and even made the difference as he did in the 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Sunday.

But as Werner admitted, he “haven’t had so long a period without a goal” in his career before (Chelsea’s official website).

Even when Werner seems to have enjoyed playing in a new role under Tuchel, he has yet to end the frustrating dry patch.

According to Merson, Mason Mount’s being the main point of Chelsea attacks might be one of the reasons behind Werner’s recent struggles.

“Watching Chelsea at the weekend, [Werner] was making some unbelievable runs,” he wrote in his column for Sky Sports.

“But the way they’re set up to play at the moment, they’re not looking for him.

“They’re not looking for those runs. They’re playing short passes to get Mason Mount in the hole and I feel that’s the problem.

“What they’ve got to work on next is getting Werner the ball as he was making some great runs.”

Merson believes Chelsea are playing “safe football” at the moment, although he understands that Tuchel might have wanted to sort out the defensive problems first.

“[Tuchel] has got them tight at the back and is steadily going about his job,” he added.

“I still think Chelsea will finish in the top four, and so long as Werner doesn’t get frustrated he will in time hit it off.”

Chronicle view

Merson had a good point, to be fair.

While Mount’s exceptional positioning between the lines has been key to Chelsea’s attacking transitions, it might also slow down their attacks.

Werner would certainly like chasing long balls sent from behind the halfway line while there might be some space behind the opposition defenders.

Although unfortunately, Chelsea might lack the personnel who could consistently make those accurate long passes — as Cesc Fabregas often did a few years ago.

Werner might not like it, but at Chelsea, he will eventually have to adapt to playing with very little space against teams that mostly sit deep.