Head coach Thomas Tuchel has said that now is the time for other attacking players to come to the fore in the absence of Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku.
The Bavarian has challenged Kai Havertz and Mason Mount in particular to take on extra responsibility in this weekend's meeting with Norwich, which takes place at Stamford Bridge at 12.30pm, and feels that both players have been 'waiting' for this chance and they have the full trust and support of him and his coaching staff.
‘They did a good job against Malmo when they came in, but you come in from the bench and it is a bit of a surprise. Sometimes it is easier to start. If you ask the guys in our dressing room who wants to start, you will have a 100 per cent raised hands.’
When quizzed on whether he believes Mount and Havertz are close to returning to their best form, Tuchel was keen to emphasise the extra responsibility on the whole team.
‘It doesn’t matter if I think they are super close or not, this is our squad and we need to find solutions to some injuries, with Christian, Timo and Romelu out,' added the boss.
‘We will still have strong squad on the pitch who can score and absolutely be able to put themselves in the position to win this game, and this is what we demand.’
Both Mount and Havertz have scored six goals under Tuchel, the joint-most of any Blues players under the German's reign, with the duo playing a key role in our Champions League success last May.
Our head coach was also pressed for an update on negotiations between the club and Mount over an extended contract, which expires in the summer of 2024.
‘I don’t get involved in these talks and these are discussions between Mason and the club,' Tuchel explained. 'This is simply not my job and you know my opinion very well.
‘He is a Chelsea boy, he comes from the Academy. That’s why it is super important to have guys like Mason who is always positive, always in the right spirit, always ready to improve, looking for responsibility and coming with the right attitude to training,’ Tuchel said on our no.19.
‘He's a fantastic boy and a very important player. You can see this in the minutes and position he plays. He is in exactly the right spot and exactly the right moment of his career and he can become a huge player for Chelsea. I don’t see any disagreement.
‘I love the mix that we have. The best players from foreign countries and the best guys from the Academy.
‘This is what makes things special, it is so fun to coach.’
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