Former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart launched into a bizarre attack on Timo Werner, claiming the Chelsea star has been playing like a “blind horse” during his first year at the club.
Werner has struggled to live up to expectations at Chelsea since joining the club from RB Leipzig last year. The blues triggered his release clause in order to pip Liverpool to his signature last summer.
Since signing, however, Werner has scored only five goals in 29 Premier League matches, and has struggled to fit in at Stamford Bridge.
And Van der Vaart slammed the German during a rant over Chelsea’s current squad. Discussing the club’s attacking options, he said Mason Mount needs to “take a step up”, and that Hakim Ziyech is the best playmaker at the club.
However, Ziyech has also struggled to settle and has been given a limited role under Thomas Tuchel.
But Van der Vaart saved the strongest of his criticisms for Timo Werner, who he saidbhas been “a blind horse” since his days in the German league.
“I would always play Ziyech because he is the best,” van der vaart said, as reported by Sport Witness. “Ziyech comes inside and also gives the cross, just like Mount. Giroud needs that.
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“He [Werner] is super-fast, and that might be nice in an away game when you’re under pressure, but it’s just putting your head down and running around.
“Mount is a great footballer, who I do think needs to make a step up. “I compare him a bit to Calvin Stengs: you have to become a bloke.
“Werner is really a blind horse. He has already proven that in Germany.”
