Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhutl has told Chelsea fans there is much more to come from Timo Werner as he prepares for a reunion with his former protege.
Hassenhutl has first-hand experience of working with Werner during their time together at Red Bull Leipzig and handed the Germany international his senior debut in the 2016/17 season.
Talking at a press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s clash at Stamford Bridge, the Saints head coach said Werner was ‘fantastic’ for him in his debut season when he scored 21 times in the Bundesliga.
Werner went on to score 21 more goals the following season in Hassenhutl’s final campaign with Leipzig.
He labelled the 24-year-old as one of the quickest players he has ever coached and ‘really hard to defend against’.
Hassenhutl believes Werner, who has scored once for Chelsea this season since his move from Leipzig, has developed into a more complete striker and admitted he will be hard to defend against this weekend, but also added the Blues ‘haven’t seen the best of him yet’.
“He was fantastic for me in his first year, scored plenty of goals,” Hassenhutl said.
“I have worked with a lot players and he is one of the quickest and he is really hard to defend against.
“He is getting a more complete striker now and is learning a lot. He is a good striker for Chelsea and he is only happy when he scores, so I hope he is unhappy after the game.
“I think when he has a team that gets him into the space he wants to be then he is very hard to defend against.
“They haven’t seen the best of him yet. It would be a mistake to reduce Chelsea to Timo, though. They have plenty of other good players in the squad.”
Chelsea will be out to improve a patchy recent record against Southampton, who Hassenhutl led to a 2-0
win at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day last season.
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