Kai Havertz says being one of Chelsea’s expensive players brings pressure
Kai Havertz discusses the pressure that comes with being one of Chelsea’s most expensive players and goes on to explain that some people mistake him for Lionel Messi.
With a £72 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea in 2020, the German international became one of the club’s most expensive signings.
Under his new boss, Graham Potter, Havertz has had a reasonable season. The player was moved to the number nine position but hasn’t been very fruitful in front of the goal. The 23-year-old has made 27 appearances for the Blues this season, scoring seven goals.
In addition, he scored the lone goal in the 2021 Champions League final as part of his overall total of 32 goals in 128 games. Since joining Chelsea, Havertz hasn’t been consistent, which has drawn criticism for the German player.
When speaking to the Guardian, (h/t TalksSports), he also discussed the pressure that comes with being one of the more expensive players, which requires you to deliver regularly.
“I was Chelsea’s most expensive player. I don’t understand how so much money is paid, but it is normal in football: look at our recent transfers. That brings pressure because people think you are [Lionel] Messi.”
“I was still 20 or 21. People don’t see that; they see the price, so you have to be great from day one. You can feel the tension. You read it, you hear it.”
Since the 23-year-old joined Chelsea, three years have passed, which, to really be honest, is more than enough time for someone to get used to a new league.
Frank Lampard, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter are the managers who have managed him in recent years. So, it makes sense that he had to modify the new formation under that management.
He scored five goals in 24 games under Lampard and 19 goals in 74 games for Tuchel across all competitions, he mostly played on the right flank for both of them, but under Potter, he is playing as a striker.
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That position in itself brings added stress, because if you don’t get the goals, even if it is from penalties or tap-ins, the media, fans and rivals all start getting on your case. It’s not even a position that Havertz naturally plays in. If the other players aren’t scoring or assisting regularly, the striker still bears the brunt when it comes to criticism.
That has happened this season with Havertz as Chelsea have been horrid in front of goal. That, coupled with his price tag, will obviously shine a brighter light on Kai as compared to most players. But now he has expensive youngsters in the team like Mykhaylo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Noni Madueke to share the burden with.