Timo Werner scored a brace of penalties to send Chelsea to a 3-0 win over Rennes and immediately stated his side’s aim to go deep in the Champions League this season.
The Blues reached the round of 16 last year but were hammered 7-1 on aggregate by eventual winners Bayern Munich. They have since embarked on a summer spending spree and look a more rounded side this term, with Werner one of those big-money acquisitions.
With two goals on the night, the Germany international now has seven goals for his new club in 11 games – with spot-kicks aiding him along the way.
He has taken over penalty duties from Jorginho after the Italian midfielder missed twice recently, and Werner says he has the blessing of both his team-mate and manager to step up for them.
“Before the game the manager told me if there’s a penalty I can take it,” he said to BT Sport.
“Two today is a bit crazy, but [if] I take them it’s all good for a striker. I hope I can carry on. When you want to score 20 goals or more you have to take a few penalties in the season, it’s a thing which gives strikers more goals at the [highest] level.
“I’m happy with that and happy Jorgi is cool with that – it’s another point which speaks to the team, shows we are not selfish and pull in one direction.”
After early-season stutters, Chelsea are now 10 games unbeaten in all competitions, with three wins on the bounce in a week. They have also not conceded a goal in almost eight hours of action.
Werner felt it was a controlled performance that showed the strength of the side, and noted that the ambition has to be for a good run in the competition.
“We did a very good game today, played very well. Both penalties were right, the red card was also good [to show] we can control the game from behind. Maybe we can score more goals, but we won at home and that’s all we want.
“We want to win the group and take a big step. We want to win the next Champions League game after the internationals and go far in the competition.”
