Timo Werner played a big part in Germany’s 4-0 win in northern Macedonia with his two goals. He also explains the fact that things are going well for the Chelsea striker in the national team despite repeated criticism with the new national coach.
At last summer’s disappointing European Championship, Werner came away empty-handed, contributing just one assist in the 2-2 draw with Hungary, and only making the starting eleven for then German coach Joachim Löw in the last 16 exit against England. Since then, however, many things have changed: Under Löw’s successor Hansi Flick, the former Bundesliga striker (Stuttgart, Leipzig) is currently a starter in all five games since the European Championship, scoring in four of them and repaying the trust with a total of five goals – the most in the still young Flick era.
In the 4-0 win in northern Macedonia, however, the Swabian-born player struggled at first, was hapless before the break and even hit the post. “It’s always difficult at the start against teams like that – as it was against Romania,” Werner said later on the RTL microphone, referring not only to his own performance: “It was good that we didn’t concede a goal this time, we were in two or three tricky situations.
“I need that confidence – and he gives me that 100 per cent. “
TIMO WERNER ON HANSI FLICK
Unmoved by this, however, and also by the bad luck and lack of penetration in the first half, Werner and his team-mates did not let themselves be rattled. Instead, the Flick team continued to look for the way forward, creating chances. “It is then a question of time before we score.” And so it came to pass.
The fact that the attacker, with his brace after Kai Havertz’s opening goal, also gave the appropriate answer to the criticism of his person that had repeatedly arisen was, however, more of a secondary matter for him: “That has to roll off somehow, inevitably. Otherwise the barrel will be full at some point.
Much more important to him, he says, is the exchange with the new national coach, who is relying on him. “I have often said that when a coach likes you and relies on you, that helps every player,” Werner said of Flick. “I need that trust – and he gives me that 100 per cent. “
