Kai Havertz looks like he’s ‘not bothered at times’, says former Chelsea star

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:45 CDT
• 2 min read

Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth has revealed that summer signing Kai Havertz’s body language concerns him, with the German struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League.

Bought for £72m from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, Havertz arrived with the weight of expectation on his shoulders having netted 38 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions since the start of the 2018/19 season.

It has, however, been a disappointing start to his Chelsea career for the German, with only one goal and two assists in the Premier League, critics have flocked around him.

Chelsea were buoyed by the acquisition of Havertz, having beaten Real Madrid and Manchester United among others to his signature, but, like many, Huth is worried by his performances.

The ex-Chelsea and Leicester defender told Stadium Astro: “It’s all well and good saying he needs to be the main guy but he’s at a big club and he needs to make that happen himself. Now is the time to shine.

“I just don’t like his body language at all, he looks a bit lightweight.

“It’s his first year, but he looks like he’s not bothered at times. He loses the ball, gives it away and doesn’t work back. It is a difficult time to come in with no fans, but you just want to shake him.

“We used to have Mahrez in our changing room [at Leicester] who got a lot better, but the team took care of him by saying ‘you can’t just do one side of it or 10 minutes of the game’.

“Maybe Chelsea lack that internal leader or leaders where that conversation happens.

“It’s not always a nice conversation to have when you’re not performing well, but it needs to happen.

“He needs someone to tell him what it takes to play in the Premier League. Maybe the whole changing room is a little bit too nice.”

Chelsea’s recent performances have started to pile the pressure on manager Frank Lampard, as the Blues are currently down in eighth in the Premier League following the defeat by Leicester this midweek.