RBL coach about Werner change
“Fingers crossed that he gets back on his feet”
January 7, 2024, 1:10 p.m
Timo Werner’s move to London is only a matter of time. On Sunday, however, his path first took him to Germany. The DFB star’s EM 2024 project will soon begin in the north of the British capital. His current coach hopes for him.
Timo Werner was missing. When his teammates were already preparing for the Bundesliga restart without him, RB Leipzig’s hapless national striker was toiling away on a side pitch in the training camp in La Manga, Spain. At the same time, Werner’s agents negotiated the final contract details with Tottenham Hotspur. In order to somehow get on the bandwagon towards the home European Championship, Werner is drawn back to the island.
“Timo wants match practice, which I can’t guarantee him at the moment. He wants to go to the European Championships, and maybe it will help us if he comes back in top condition under certain circumstances,” said RB coach Marco Rose after the 1-0 win in the Test against FC St. Gallen: “We wish him all the best and keep our fingers crossed that he gets back on his feet there and gains self-confidence. That’s the most important thing for him.”
England remembers Werner’s missed chances
After a transfer to Manchester United was initially discussed in the media, it will now be Spurs. He will be loaned there until the end of the season, although according to consistent media reports there will be an option to buy. “I have the feeling that the change in air is good for him,” said Rose. Under him, Werner was no longer part of the regular formation. Loïs Openda, Yussuf Poulsen and Benjamin Sesko are all ahead.
Werner, who has a contract in Leipzig until 2026, only started twice in the Bundesliga this season and not once in the Champions League. In total, the 27-year-old scored two goals in 14 competitive appearances, which should not have gone unnoticed by national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “Timo has the right to be the undisputed regular player. The trend wasn’t going in that direction, so it’s a good decision for both sides,” said Rose.
The turnaround should succeed in the Premier League – a league that Werner knows very well. At Chelsea he had two mixed years from 2020 to 2022, with his performances being assessed more and more critically than the numbers indicated. On paper there are 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 games as well as winning the Champions League. What remained in the minds of the English fans were YouTube videos of missed opportunities. As a replacement for Spurs star Heung-Min Son, who is at the Asian Cup, Werner still has a score to settle here too.