Chelsea’s struggling Timo Werner is like ‘a young Theo Walcott’, says Joe Cole after Champions League display

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Joe Cole compared Timo Werner to “a young Theo Walcott” as pundits analysed the Chelsea forward’s Champions League performance. 

Chelsea earned an important 1-0 ‘away’ win – the match was played at a neutral venue in Romania due to Covid travel restrictions – over Atletico Madrid after Olivier Giroud’s spectacular overhead kick in the second half. 

Afterwards Werner’s performance was scrutinised following another performance on the fringes. 

“He’s like a young Theo Walcott,” the former Chelsea midfielder Cole said on BT Sport. “So much talent, but it wasn’t until the latter stage of his career when he put it all together and started scoring regularly. With good coaches, he will start to kick on, we just have to be patient with him.”

Rio Ferdinand described Werner as “frustrating” to watch.

“It’s frustrating watching him because you’ve seen clips of what he can do,” Ferdinand said. Discussing a missed opportunity late in the game: “It’s not an easy chance, but you’d like to see him get it on target. [If] he gets into these areas and makes the keeper make a save, fair enough, but there’s far too many times when he’s loose in possession when building up, or decision making when he gets into these areas at times.

“Sometimes fast players have to slow the game down a bit. They’re running so fast everything seems to be a blur.”

Chelsea now face a tough run of games with Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Leeds United all lined up in the Premier League, before the return leg with Atletico at Stamford Bridge.