Alan Shearer has claimed on Match of the Day 2 that Kai Havertz’s passing was not up to standard for Chelsea yesterday.
The Blues fell to a 1-0 defeat to the league leaders, however their tame attacking approach was what caught the majority of headlines as far as the Blues are concerned.
They created very little in the game, summed up by the dismal performance of central striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against his former side.
The striker started alongside Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling in attack, although Chelsea’s system continued to force the Englishman to start attacks from inside his own half at times.
However, the 27-year-old could well have been in for the hosts’ best opportunity of the afternoon if he had been found by Havertz when they were on the attack.
However, the German could not find his teammate and the chance went begging, although Shearer has said that he doesn’t think it was a difficult pass to make.
Shearer slams Havertz
He said: “They could have been there now and they wouldn’t have scored, such was their lack of quality in the final.
“They got into one or two decent positions, not many, but when they did their final ball was terrible.
“I mean this one, I don’t think it’s a difficult pass to roll that across there but look what happened from Havertz, it’s an awful pass.”
In truth, it’s been an underwhelming season again for Havertz. He only has a handful of goals, albeit with them normally coming at important stages of games.
His goal against RB Salzburg a couple of weeks ago was a timely reminder of the quality he possesses, and he has seemed to play his best football when he has featured in a position behind the striker.
It will be interesting to see if he is utilised in that role more frequently after the World Cup.