Kai Havertz seemed uninterested in a ‘strange’ debut for Chelsea against Brighton, believes Arsenal legend Paul Merson.
The German arrived from Bayer Leverkusen this summer for a fee that could rise to £71m and an awful lot is expected of the 21-year-old sensation.
However, it proved to be a slow start to his Stamford Bridge career when he started the Blues’ first game of the season at Brighton last Monday.
Frank Lampard’s side won the game 3-1, but Havertz was quiet and substituted in the second half after not making much impression.
Former Arsenal and England star Merson found it a strange performance and wants to see a much more committed Havertz when Chelsea take on Liverpool in the Premier League this Sunday.
‘Kai Havertz has got a lot do. He didn’t play well,’ Merson wrote for the Daily Star.
‘He didn’t even look interested at times. When he came off, he didn’t really seem to care. It was strange.’
Lampard was certainly not in agreement with Merson after his new star’s debut and was pleased with his display.
‘I liked him. It’s not a game where you come away and say “there’s 10 vintage moments” but I thought there were moments of big quality and calmness,’ said the Chelsea boss.
‘It’s a big ask [to settle in immediately] there’s lot on his shoulders for the singing that he was he’s young and coming into a new league.
‘He plays the game at such a quality and the way in which he receives the ball. We saw a few glimpses of that. We saw him sprint back 80 yards to make a tackle after giving the ball away. Everything I’ve seen in terms of his character is spot on.
‘His quality will come through. It’s asking a lot for him tonight but we saw glimpses. We’re going to see a lot more of him, I think he’s a hugely talented young player.’
Chelsea host Liverpool at 4.30pm on Sunday and Havertz will almost certainly be involved.
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