UNDERDOGS, NOW BACK
TIMO WERNER on why an unwanted record is firing up unfancied Blues
TIMO WERNER is determined to ensure Chelsea do not write an unwanted chapter of FA Cup history.
The Blues play Liverpool in today’s Wembley showpiece desperate to avoid a third successive final defeat, having lost to Leicester last year and Arsenal the year before.
But Werner believes they relish being underdogs and insists they are ready to repeat last season’s surprise when they defied the odds to beat Manchester City in the Champions League final.
“When you’re three years in a row in the final and lose it three times, that wouldn’t be the best record you can put into the history of the FA
Cup,” he said. But I think the
FA Cup final is a bit similar to the Champions League final last year. There we were also a bit the underdogs, but it fits us very well.
“Liverpool have always had problems against us. In the last two years that I’ve been here we always had good games against Liverpool. We never lost in 90 minutes. It makes it a lot of fun to play against them.
“They defend very deep, because they are also very brave, they also defend very high, so maybe that fits my style of football a bit better.”
Werner, 26, moved to Stamford
Bridge two years ago and it is fair to say he has had mixed fortunes. But in the past few months he has stepped up with goals, his overall contribution to the team and has nailed down his place as a starter.
The Germany forward is also very different off the pitch from the serious character he appears to be on it.
He loves a laugh, is close to young players such as Kai Havertz – their girlfriends are also good friends – Mason Mount and Reece James.
“It’s hard to run onto the pitch with a smile. But outside of the pitch, I love to do jokes,” he added.
“Our changing room is very funny. Off the pitch, I’m not so serious.”
His friendship with fellow German Havertz (left) in particular helped both through ups and downs: “We understand the other one very well. It’s still hard in football to find the right words, it’s up and down. It’s like this when you play for a top club.
“The five years before Chelsea the last year was always going up. I never had so many problems in terms of scoring as I’ve had in the last year,” he said.
“But in the end it helps you, it brings you to another level, you see things differently and you have to keep going. But it’s not just the strikers. We have to work hard as a team.”