As previously reported, RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner is currently struggling to find any kind of positive form back in Saxony. Since his return from Chelsea, the 27-year-old has struggled to replicate the output that had once made the marksman one of Europe’s most sought after attackers.
Now Werner is considered to be Leipzig’s fourth choice striker with head coach Marco Rose claiming: “We have guys who are doing it well at the moment, who are scoring, who are reliable.” Despite Werner being Leipzig’s all time leading goalscorer with 111 goals, he has failed to find the back of the net in over twelve hours of gametime.
“For Timo, it’s about him defending himself and showing that with every appearance – no matter how short it is – that he wants to be back in the first team and in every training session,” explained Rose. The head coach would add: “I’ll be honest, we haven’t talked much. “But at the moment I’m very much in the role of observer, how is he dealing with the situation?”
Having once been one of the most feared strikers in not just Germany, but the whole of Europe, it would be understandable that such a downturn in form could have mentally affected the former Champions League winner. However, Rose would comment: “Our support is that we are there whenever there is a need to talk. We can talk about anything and explain things. But in the end Timo has to get involved. He has to implement and I’ll say it again: He has to defend himself!”
While Rose may find it difficult to trust Werner in the Bundesliga, with Leipzig looking to dethorne Bayern Munich, there should be an opportunity for the 27-year-old to rekindle his goalscoring touch in the DFB-Pokal. Leipzig face Wehen Wiesbaden on Wednesday and if Werner fails to flourish then a road to redemption will continue to look significantly unlikely.
GGFN | Will Shopland
