At a press conference in Germany yesterday Kai Havertz heaped praise on two of his Chelsea team-mates, one of whom he hopes to line up alongside at this summer’s European Championships, and another he could be going toe-to-toe with when Germany meet France.
Havertz was on media duties in his homeland ahead of his country’s final Euro 2020 warm-up game, a friendly with Latvia in Dusseldorf on Monday. A natural choice after his exploits for Chelsea in Porto a week earlier, Kai received plenty of congratulations from the German reporters, who also had some questions for him.
One centred on N’Golo Kante, who could be trying to stop Havertz strut his stuff at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Tuesday 15 June. Germany versus France is a mouthwatering start to the action in Group F.
‘When you see him, you have to smile,’ Havertz said of N’Golo.
‘He is a great personality and a great person, and a great football player. As an attacking player, I'm always happy when he is on the pitch. You can make a lot of mistakes because he always wins the ball back. He's fast, agile and always gets his leg in.
‘That's why it's not so nice to have to play against him in the first match of the European Championship, of course!’
Havertz was also asked about his compatriot Toni Rudiger, who has been in superb form in the second half of the season and is a regular in the German national team under Joachim Low.
‘He has given us so much stability over the last few months. After Tuchel's arrival, he played outstandingly.
‘As a mentality player, he's also important. On the pitch, he's a warrior. A bit like Kante - you want him in your team.
‘Playing against him in training isn't as much fun either. The last few months have been top. It was very hard for him at first and now he's fought his way out of it.’
And what of his winning goal in Portugal, a week on?
‘Obviously it gives me self-confidence. It was a really important goal for me and the club, and for my family too. It's a special moment that will live with me forever.
‘I need confidence because it helps me play my best - but I have to keep my feet on the ground.
‘I want to be a starter at the Euros, everyone wants that,’ he added of his prospects this summer.
‘When you're selected for the squad, you want to play as well. Sometimes you have to leave your ego at the door, though. I want to play but if you're on the bench then you have to give your best for the team when you're called upon.’