Timo Werner is facing criticism for missing a rare opportunity last week. But Tottenham captain Heung-Min Son could now help him – unintentionally.
Those who have to take a back seat in the Premier League are yearning for a competition that the coaches of the top clubs couldn’t care less about: the League Cup is where the second and third string come into their own. And because Timo Werner is a particularly prominent member of the Tottenham Hotspur squad, he was allowed to play from the start for the first time this season in the third round game against second division Coventry City (2-1) last week.
It would be an understatement to say that he did not impress: in his 74-minute appearance, none of his three dribbles or crosses were successful; he won only one of five tackles and lost the ball 14 times; he did not take a shot on goal and therefore remained as goalless as in the three substitute appearances that coach Ange Postecoglou had previously granted him in the league. His teammates only scored both goals after he had been substituted.
Postecoglou: “It depends on how you react to it”
“I’ve become much happier,” Werner said after the first few weeks of his loan in February, and he was accordingly in agreement when Spurs wanted to extend it in the summer. But now the 57-time international (24 goals) has to fight for every minute of action, as he did before in Leipzig, and is under critical observation by fans and those around him. Will his second London adventure also end unsatisfactorily after the two years at Chelsea (2020 to 2022)?
It’s not that far yet. Now it’s Werner’s turn, said Postecoglou on Friday, shrugging his shoulders when asked about the criticism of his 28-year-old attacker. “That’s part of being a professional footballer. You’re always criticized and always under scrutiny, it’s how you react to it.” If a player’s performance and attitude suffered, he would take action. ‘But Timo’s a professional. He works hard every day and I have no doubt he can do something for us. The best way is to focus on football and keep doing the right thing.’
Tottenham face a left-wing shortage at Old Trafford
Is Werner ready to play on Sunday? Because captain Heung-Min Son is questionable for the game at Manchester United and Richarlison is out, as is summer signing Wilson Odobert, there is a risk of a shortage on the left wing. Postecoglou also brought Dejan Kulusevski, who is actually at home on the right, and 17-year-old Mikey Moore into the game on Friday. However, Werner came on when Son was sent off in the 71st minute in the 3-0 Europa League opener against Qarabag on Thursday, in which Spurs were already down a man after seven minutes and had to survive some precarious situations.
One thing is clear: if he gets another chance to prove himself at Old Trafford, whether as a substitute or even from the start, Werner would be well advised to deliver the kind of performance we have not seen so far. The League Cup doesn’t continue until the end of October.
