Gary Lineker made a bold but justifiable comparison between Kai Havertz and Glenn Hoddle during the Champions League contest between Chelsea and Lille.
Lineker sat as a spectator along with the rest of Stamford Bridge whilst Thomas Tuchel’s men made one giant step towards the quarter-finals.
Goals either side of half-time from Havertz and Christian Pulisic ensured a pretty comfortable victory in South West London.
This relatively routine win was managed, perhaps uncoincidentally, without Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku, like Lineker, watched on from the substitutes bench as a supporter all evening, failing to step onto the turf at all.
His replacement through the centre of Chelsea’s attack certainly justified Tuchel’s decision to drop the club-record signing.
King Kai in cruise control
Havertz seems to soak up the Champions League like no other competition.
He seems to grow in stature once the European lights turn on and the whole world stares in his direction.
The 22-year-old was certainly a massive presence yesterday, leading the line with real poise and stature.
Unlike Lukaku, the German ensured he stayed involved with the play, dropping deep to receive the ball, whilst also peeling off to the right or left during attacks.
His close control allowed Tuchel’s men to fire passes into him, safe in the knowledge the ball would still be attached to their teammate’s boot.
Once Havertz is in full flow, there are few more idyllic scenes in the sporting world.
A picturesque player that captured Lineker’s imagination, to the extent he contrasted the young forward against one legendary midfielder.
Hoddle built a career around being beautiful on the eye.
The former Chelsea manager was very much a contradictory to the traditional midfielder of the era.
He didn’t make leg-breaking tackles or look for the long ball every time.
Where a dribble could be made, he made it. We are cute pass could be played, he played it.
Whilst Havertz has quite a stretch to reach Hoddle’s footballing pedestal, he is certainly heading in the right direction.
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