In his pre-match media conference ahead of the Malmo game, Thomas Tuchel when discussing Kai Havertz said the player’s chance to be back in the team could come at any time, and so it proved the very next day.
Once again Havertz was selected among the substitutes but in time-honoured football tradition, one player’s misfortune was another’s opportunity and when Romelu Lukaku was forced off with injury, it opened the way for the German to make a scoring return to the pitch.‘You always have to be ready even though you sit for 20 minutes,’ said the 22-year-old who netted the third goal in the 4-0 win.
‘It's always tough to come in but I try to do my best and it was a good goal.‘Callum did a good assist, the ball was very far but I could get to it and I knew that the goalkeeper would go down, so I think the only choice I had was to tip it over the keeper.‘For us it's a very good result. To score four goals is always good. It gives a lot of confidence.’
Timo Werner joined Lukaku on the injured list and although the extent of their problems is not yet known, it seems the opportunities in attack for Havertz may increase in the coming matches, beginning with Norwich at home this weekend.‘We have to just keep on going, recover well, we need to refresh for Saturday,’ he said.‘Whether it is the Champions League or Premier League, we don't care. We want to win games. That's also the ambition for Saturday.’