It’s Timo’s time at Tottenham
TIMO WERNER first arrived in English football as a goal machine on the back of a 30-plus season in the Bundesliga but those days are gone.
Perceptions changed during his two years at Chelsea, where he was never close to the blistering strike rate of his first spell at RB Leipzig. Instead, he acquired a reputation for missing chances and being offside, and few were upset in the summer of 2022 to see him return whence he came.
Goals have deserted Werner, 27, and yet his endeavour has never faltered. So when he scored for the first time in a Tottenham shirt, the equaliser in a 3-1 comeback win over Crystal Palace having missed a glorious chance, one-on-one with the goalkeeper with the game goalless, there was a genuine swell of affection and a sigh of relief.
‘I’m very happy for him,’ said Son Heung-min. ‘Timo is working really hard. I wish he had scored in the first half to make the game a little bit easier but he was very happy to score his first for Spurs. He deserved it and there are many more to come.
‘When you miss a big chance you think the world is against you but Timo stepped up, didn’t give up. He’s playing fantastic. I hope he enjoyed a goal that can help the team, but Timo shouldn’t celebrate this any more because the fans and the players are expecting more from him. I hope he continues to work hard and help his team.’
It was a vital goal in Tottenham’s comeback after they went behind to a brilliant free-kick by Eberechi Eze. It broke the Palace resistance because, three minutes later, Cristian Romero headed Spurs into the lead and Son broke clear to score the third late on.
It also rekindled thoughts of what could be if Ange Postecoglou were able to fix the Werner goal machine.
‘After what happened in the first half of the season at Leipzig, I have felt very comfortable here,’ said Werner. ‘The group, the manager and the trainers gave me the feeling I’m needed here, they want me here. Now with the goal it helps a striker to be more patient. I’m not waiting any more, now it’s here and hopefully I can score many more.’
Postecoglou refused to go along with the theory that Werner desperately needed that goal. For him, the German has been making a solid contribution on the left wing since he arrived on loan from Leipzig in January.
Werner’s pace, energy and ceaseless determination to threaten in the space behind the full back is exactly what the Spurs boss wants. It creates disorder in well-drilled defensive lines and creates opportunities for others.
There is no obligation to make the loan permanent and perhaps what happens from here until the end of the season will decide that, but Werner has been a helpful addition with Manor Solomon and Richarlison injured, and Son absent on international duty.
In Postecoglou’s mind, the most satisfying aspect of Werner’s first Tottenham goal was to see one winger on the end of a cross from the other one, in this case delivered by Brennan Johnson. A key tenet of his footballing style is to see wide men attacking the back post. He had let out a rare roar of despair earlier when Werner flashed in a low cross and Dejan Kulusevski was not in the right place to convert what would have been a simple chance.
‘Timo had a really good game,’ said Postecoglou. ‘Aggressive, taking on his full back. He had the chance in the first half but for that crucial goal he was in the right area, winger to winger. It’s something we work on every day.’
FOR Palace, a first defeat under Oliver Glasner is a reminder of work to do. They host Luton next, which they will view as a chance they must take to ease away from the relegation scrap as they get to know their new manager.
For Tottenham, another victory after going behind emphasises the spirit under Postecoglou, cleanses the recent defeat by Wolves from the system and keeps them five points behind fourthplaced Aston Villa ahead of Sunday’s trip to Villa Park.
‘Playing Villa next, it was important to get this win,’ said Werner. ‘The three points kept the pressure on them and if we win there, which we should do if we want to play Champions League next season, then with one game in hand it will be good for us.’