European Cup hero Kai Havertz feels the dissatisfaction of Chelsea fans for the first time.Image: imago / PRiME Media Images
Football International
There are moments when footballers just look stupid. If a striker passes the ball freely in front of the goal or a goalkeeper throws the ball at an opponent’s feet without being pressed, this is often entertaining for neutral fans, but for their own supporters it is a real test of loyalty.
Attacking all-rounder Kai Havertz put the affection of Chelsea fans to the test on Sunday when he made a blunder against Manchester City in the FA Cup: When the score was 0-1, he was a little behind in his own penalty area when he crossed opponent’s back. Realizing his mistake in positional play, he recklessly jumped arm first into the aerial duel to save the situation – and involuntarily punched the ball away from the opponent’s nose.
Referee Robert Jones did not initially punish the handball, only a look at the video images convinced him: The German had punched the ball away in goalkeeper style. Argentina’s World Cup hero Julián Álvarez confidently converted the penalty due, and City won 4-0 in the end.
Twitter laughs at “Statue of Liberty” Havertz, Chelsea fans demand transfer
Chelsea coach Graham Potter was “not amused”, video recordings show his reaction to the handball: the recordings suggest that he turned away in amazement with the words “Fuck me” on the bench. At half-time he also took Havertz off the field.
In retrospect, the national player earned plenty of malice from the fans for his action. Among other things, on Twitter they mock the 23-year-old: “Potter has to use Havertz very far in the next game. Preferably outside the stadium,” scolds a cynic among Chelsea fans.
Other “Blues” supporters treated their frustration with the gifted penalty with humor: one user compares Havertz getting in with the pose of the Statue of Liberty. Another wonders if Havertz mixed up the sport and maybe played volleyball.
Many Chelsea fans seem torn as to whether Havertz and the other 2021 European Cup heroes have lost their legend status again or whether the main culprit of the current misery is someone else.
Havertz (2nd from right) scored the decisive goal in the Champions League final against Manchester City.Image: imago images / Nick Potts
Fans demand Potter’s sacking and want Thomas Tuchel back
Although some fans are demanding that the national player, who was once signed by Bayer Leverkusen for 80 million euros, be sold at the earliest opportunity, fan opinion is clearer about coach Graham Potter.
Graham Potter was also tipped as a potential Southgate successor for the England national team before he took up his post at Chelsea.Image: AP / Luca Bruno
Potter only became Chelsea coach in September after Thomas Tuchel’s Londoners slipped out of the European Cup and new owner Todd Boehly wanted to start over with a fresh coach. Since then, however, Chelsea have won just four out of eleven Premier League games.
The hashtag #PotterOut is now trending on Twitter, with fans calling for the trainer to be kicked out. “Sports Bible” points out that this tag has been around since Potter’s first Chelsea game. Apparently, many fans are still crying for the dismissed Thomas Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel was dismissed as acting “world coach” at Chelsea in September.Image: imago / Pixsell
During the guest appearance in Manchester, they loudly demanded the return of their successful coach, and malicious songs were also dedicated to the new consortium of owners. Chelsea trainer Potter can understand the frustration, as he says, but the “Thomas Tuchel” calls should have hit him too.
“We don’t plan any big transfers”, it was said by Markus Krösche for the New Year, in his capacity as sports director at Eintracht Frankfurt. Now the personnel carousel at the SBU could be pushed again.