Timo Werner is happy to be playing in the Premier League again. He already notices the differences to the Bundesliga – physically and atmospherically
Timo Werner wanted to get back on the pitch, back in the Premier League, back in national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s notebook. There was one circumstance he “couldn’t take into account”, as he says: the fact that he was loaned out by RB Leipzig to Tottenham Hotspur of all clubs, the arch-rivals of his former club Chelsea FC.
“Of course it’s a bit strange,” admits the 57-time international in the Sky interview. “In Germany, not everyone would shout ‘hurrah’ if you moved from Dortmund to Schalke. But there are so many clubs, especially in London, that the likelihood of returning to play for a rival is not small. “
His impressive start with five starts and two assists helped him to appease some fans. Werner himself already feels at home – in the city (“Sometimes you wonder why you left London in the first place”) and on the pitch, where he has been playing on the left wing so far. “I’ve become much happier. After five games, you can say that the transfer has paid off. “
“Completely different philosophies of the fans “
In any case, he only seems to miss Bundesliga soccer to a limited extent. “Fouls that are whistled in Germany are laughed off here. They just get on with the game. My legs hurt after 60 minutes against Brighton,” he reports. “You have to learn to be strong on your feet and, if in doubt, take a kick more. “
And he also finds the atmosphere in the English stadiums “impressive”. Instead of the “loud, repetitive chants” in Germany, you notice on the island “how the stadium goes along as soon as you’re on the attack. The fans have completely different philosophies.”
Overall, Werner sees the Premier League as being ahead of all other leagues – forever. It now has “so much hype that the other leagues can no longer catch up.”
