Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has admitted that he “expected to see more” from Kai Havertz this season following his Champions League final heroics.
Havertz wrote himself into Chelsea history by scoring the only goal of the game in May’s Champions League final win over Manchester City in Porto.
The goal ensured his debut season in England finished on a high following a fairly underwhelming campaign after his £70million move from Bayer Leverkusen.
But things have not gone to plan so far this season for the German international.
Havertz has contributed just one goal in nine appearances so far this season - compared to three goals in his final five Premier League games of the 2020/21 campaign.
The 22-year-old’s slump in form was summed up by his lacklustre performance during Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat by Juventus in Turin where he frequently gave the ball away.
The loss against Juve was Chelsea’s second in succession following their defeat by Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend and Tuchel is demanding more from the German international against Southampton today.
"Yes, I am not shy of saying it: we expected to see more of this in games and at the same time, it is important that I feel the whole team is maybe a little bit stuck in expectations,” he said.
"We want absolutely more from Kai, what he can deliver because he is full of talent, of course.
“Nobody is angry at him but once you play for Chelsea, we want to have the best out of you.
"I don't know why, maybe it is because of our success, it's very important and necessary that we brush it off our shoulders and focus on the right here and now.
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"I want to have the best out of me, the club does as well and the players and they need to accept these expectations but at the same time, get rid of them and fight hard for being an important player.
"Every time is a crucial moment, crucial games and we will push, we will not stop, try to help and the players need to show it. It's their game, quality and moments that they have to use."
Havertz’s only goal of the season came from a looping header in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool on August 28.
Since then the German international has gone five Chelsea games without a goal or an assist, with the Blues failing to score in each of their last two matches.
The visit of winless Southampton to Stamford Bridge today represents a good opportunity for Tuchel’s side to get back on track.
If he is selected, it will give Havertz the chance to bounce back from a poor performance in Turin, which former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch was far from impressed by.
"I thought [Hakim] Ziyech and Havertz were very disappointing. I think Havertz reminds me of [Mesut] Ozil", Crouch said on BT Sport.
"He does things where it comes easy to him and he looks technically brilliant. But he can also look lazy and laboured at times and he can frustrate you and I thought tonight they were frustrating."
