Ex-Chelsea star urges Tuchel to ‘unleash forgotten man’ on Real Madrid

The Blues travel to the Bernabeu on Tuesday night needing to bounce back from a 3-1 first-leg loss in their Champions League quarter-final.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel needs to ‘unleash the forgotten man Timo Werner’ against Real Madrid, according to ex-Blues striker Chris Sutton.

Werner has endured another difficult campaign at Stamford Bridge. The forward has just nine goals in all competitions, although he scored a brace in the club’s 6-0 win over Southampton on Saturday. He has also made four-goal contributions (3 goals, 1 assist) in as many Champions League games.

‘It is time for Chelsea to unleash the forgotten man’

Now, with Romelu Lukaku out, Werner could start for Tuesday’s second leg at Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals – a change Sutton would welcome.

“Following their loss at home to Real Madrid last week, Chelsea need to sort a number of things should they want to have any chance of getting back into the tie,” Sutton told the Daily Mail.

“Firstly, they cannot allow Karim Benzema to torment them like he was able to last week. His movement caused the Chelsea backline all sorts of bother.

“With Romelu Lukaku not even in the squad, it is time for Chelsea to unleash the forgotten man Timo Werner. His pace and movement can combine well with the guile of Kai Havertz to cause Real Madrid plenty of issues.

“Despite not trusting him defensively, Thomas Tuchel would be wise to call upon Marcos Alonso who can provide the European champions with an extra dimension going forward.”

Sutton added: “If Tuchel’s defeatist attitude is genuine and he does indeed think they’ve got nothing to lose, isn’t it worth throwing Werner into the mix? Why not?

“Chelsea need goals, and though Werner hasn’t set the world alight since signing, he’s guaranteed to work his socks off. Lukaku hasn’t traveled to Madrid so Werner and Havertz playing off one another could represent their best bet of striking early in this European encounter.

“Of course, Real won’t be as naïve as Southampton were at St Mary’s. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side played with a high line and Tuchel’s Chelsea gobbled that up. Carlo Ancelotti won’t be so generous. Real are a streetwise group. They’re wily and won’t be giving Chelsea any freebies.”