Timo Werner scored minutes into his return to RB Leipzig, the club he left for Chelsea in 2020 and the club he left Chelsea for in 2022. Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, the German opened up on his problems under compatriot Thomas Tuchel in London afterward.
Werner returned to Leipzig this summer from Chelsea, the team he joined two years ago in a deal worth in the region of 50 million pounds. He won the UEFA Champions League with the Blues in his first season at the club but lost his spot to Romelu Lukaku the season after. Dropping down to the bench meant “the fun was lost” for the German international, who said as much in his own words in an interview he gave following his return to Leipzig.
“For me, the fun of playing football is in the foreground. Of course, I had great success at Chelsea, but the fun got a bit lost in the end because I didn’t play regularly anymore,”
he said.
Werner spent half a season at Chelsea playing under Frank Lampard. For the remaining season-and-a-half, he was coached by compatriot Tuchel, whose system, believes the forward, hampered his ability to play at his best. That, he revealed, was a key factor in his decision to leave London.
“I think the coach’s system of play didn’t suit me perfectly. That’s why it was clear to me that I wanted to take a new step. I’m at an age where I want to play as much as I can,”
the 26-year-old said.
“I really associate very great successes with Chelsea – the greatest of my career. It will always be a special club for me. I will also stay in touch with many of the players from the team.”
Werner scored 95 goals in 159 appearances in his first stint with RB Leipzig – which lasted four years. He became the club’s record goalscorer during this time, a record which he added to 36 minutes into his second debut for the club when an error by FC Koln’s Marvin Schwabe gifted him his first goal since his return.
