Frank Lampard defends misfiring Kai Havertz after tough start at Chelsea

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POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Alex Young @alexwsyoung13 December 2020

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has dismissed criticism of Kai Havertz after the £71million summer signing again failed to impress.

Havertz has endured a tough start to life in the Premier League, including a numbers of weeks out with coronavirus, and has returned just one goal in 10 Premier League games.  

He was withdrawn after 68 minutes of the 1-0 defeat at Everton, the fourth successive game he has been substituted, after failing to have any impact against makeshift left-back Ben Godfrey.

But Lampard has jumped to the defence of the 21-year-old.

"In the modern day there is going to be criticism for every player of every club who loses a game," said the former Blues midfielder.

"We should be patient with Havertz from a Chelsea end because he is a top-quality talent who has come into this league.

"He can play in any position across the front three and he has played on the right countless times before he played for Chelsea.

"But we have to be patient, particularly with any young player playing in the speed of the Premier League.

"People who want to jump on to criticise (should) just wait and give a young player time. I know the player that Kai Havertz is going to be."

Premier League - Everton v Chelsea
Pool via REUTERS

Lampard was keen to use the loss at Goodison Park as a reality check.

"This will be a challenge for the players," he added.

"In the Premier League you are going to lose games and it is important to put perspective on it.

"The game was the game. I'm not going to say I learned anything in one game necessarily."

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