FORMER Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart has urged Thomas Tuchel to drop Timo Werner as he branded the Chelsea striker as a ‘blind horse’.
The ex-Holland international, 38, believes the Blues boss should start Hakim Ziyech ahead of the German centre-forward as he hit out at the 25-year-old.
Despite chipping in with an impressive nine Premier League assists this term, Werner has struggled in front of goal since joining from RB Leipzig.
He has found the back of the net just five times in 29 top-flight appearances, with the player scoring just once since November 7.
Werner was dropped to the bench for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg clash against Porto where the West Londoners advanced through to the last four.
And Van der Vaart – who fired in 28 goals in 77 Spurs appearances between 2010 and 2012 – has declared Werner should stay out of the Chelsea team.
Speaking to Dutch TV station Ziggo Sport, he said: “If I was Thomas Tuchel I would always pick Hakim Ziyech, simply because he is the best option by far.
“He can cut inside and create chances, as can Mason Mount. That is what Olivier Giroud needs.
“Timo Werner is super fast, and maybe that is something good to have in an away game when Chelsea are under pressure.
“But all he does is put his head down and run himself to death.
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“Mount is a terrific footballer, and I think he can get even better, but Werner is truly a blind horse.
“He already showed that’s what he is like when he played in Germany – and he’s doing it again now.”
Meanwhile Arsenal icon Paul Merson has stated he is unsure whether Werner will ever succeed in England as he tipped Kai Havertz to show his class in the near future.
He told Sky Sports: “I really think he [Havertz] will be a superstar and in time to come, he will be special. I’m not sure about Werner, though, I don’t think it’s working.”
Before adding: “Havertz, I can swallow that as he is a young kid. But this lad does things on the pitch and you are like, ‘really’?
“He will go down the wing and just cross it into the box when no-one is in there.
“I’ve been disappointed with him to be honest and for me, I would try and see what I can do with him this summer.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
