Ange Postecoglou threw Timo Werner straight into the deep end for Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Manchester United on Sunday at Old Trafford.
Even though the on-loan RB Leipzig star has made only two starts this season, he was handed his Tottenham debut in a very entertaining 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
Despite the lack of game time, Tim Sherwood thinks Timo Werner ‘didn’t look tired’ and he felt he ‘did well’, as he told Premier League Productions (14/01/24 at 6:40 pm).
As you would expect, the former Chelsea man had chances to score and was constantly running in behind from the left flank.
When the 27-year-old was previously in the Premier League, he would primarily play through the middle, but he operated from the left for Spurs, with goalscorer Richarlison down the middle and Brennan Johnson on the right.
Whilst Timo Werner could have done better with a number of chances he had to score, including a left-footed shot and header failing to hit the target, he did supply the assist for Rodrigo Bentancur’s equaliser in the second half.
That will provide him with a much-needed boost and confidence because he will be well aware that he isn’t anywhere near his best yet, with Tim Sherwood being brutally honest about his debut.
Timo Werner’s Tottenham debut at Manchester United
“He didn’t look tired,” said Sherwood. “Timo has done well there today. He is a threat behind and he will get better with game time and a bit of knowledge of his teammates in training.
“Of course, they work to a game plan, so in every training session, they are learning something which is relative to what they are going to put in a matchday.
“100% (he is in a better team and system at Spurs). If you had to pick a side and a formation for Timo Werner to play in, then it would be Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham – He needs to still work on his finishing. Nobody is too old to learn. But he gives them a real threat.
“As soon as he steps onto the pitch, everyone knows his reputation. When he steps onto the pitch, because everyone knows how quick he is, automatically they are going to defend 5-10 yards deeper, which creates a little space.
“He will get the service. It won’t be like Chelsea. He needs to forget about Chelsea. Get that out of your head. That was a good experience on how not to do it. He knows what the Premier League is all about. He stuck to his position there because he gets a lot of work from the inside from Udogie. He will get no shortage of supply in this Tottenham team. This is a cheap one and it might work.”
Timo Werner’s fitness
It needs to be noted that Werner isn’t anywhere near ready, in terms of fitness, so that in itself is a good sign for the Spurs fans – Roy Keane reacted to Werner’s signing.
This mini-break will allow the player to build up that fitness, and then the team as a whole will get stronger because injured players will return.
Added to taking part in more training sessions and building a relationship with his new teammates on the pitch.
It will allow Werner to prove people wrong that his return to the Premier League will be a success.
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