Good for DFB team? Kai Havertz prefers to play on the nine

Good for DFB team? Kai Havertz prefers to play on the nine

At Chelsea, Kai Havertz has slowly but surely developed into a number nine. A role in which he now feels comfortable. And with which he could also occupy a problem position in the DFB team.

The center forward position in the German national team has been vacant for years. Actually since the last World Cup triumph in 2014. Miro Klose ended his DFB career, a successor could not get stuck on the nine.

Mainly because there is a lack of real centre-forwards in Germany. Since then, tests have been carried out frequently, and a player has often had to serve as a so-called “false nine”. Also Kai Havertz. Although one can now ask whether the 23-year-old has not already developed into a “real nine” at Chelsea?

“My position is not that important to me. Whether I play on the ten, on the nine or on the right side, I want to help the team and justify the coach’s trust,” Havertz explained table football. But the 28-time national player has one preference: “I can put myself in any position. Of course it’s a little harder for me on the ten because I’ve actually only played center forward at Chelsea in the past year and a half and those are two completely different roles .”

Havertz in the DFB team: Finally permanently on the nine?

For national coach Hansi Flick, these should be positive statements. While Timo Werner does not feel particularly comfortable in the role of sole leader, Havertz could also take on this role permanently in the DFB team. With the Blues, he has mostly filled them in in recent months and has shown that the trained attacking midfielder can bring a lot to a team on the nine.

Havertz will probably never become a classic goalscorer in the narrower sense à la Lewandowski, Kane and Co. With him at the top, a team can act very variably. While the 23-year-old falls into the tens or half-spaces, others can push into the center – such as Thomas Müller or Chelsea team-mate Timo Werner.

Havertz’s goal quota is also not that of a real top scorer of international format. There have been 24 goals in 100 competitive games for Chelsea so far, and he has scored one goal in six Premier League games this season.

Nevertheless, Havertz has a certain final strength and is always good for a goal. That was clear – at the very highest level – in last year’s Champions League quarter-finals, when he scored the 1-2 draw against Real Madrid in the first leg. On the other side, a certain Karim Benzema scored three goals.

That Benzema is a “natural” number nine. Nevertheless, Havertz could learn a lot from the French. Benzema also likes to fall and is integrated into the combination game.

How does Flick plan with Havertz?

Hansi Flick has used Havertz more often on the wing or in attacking midfield. Here the DFB team is strong and deep. In the hot phase of the World Cup preparations, the national coach could now increasingly rely on Havertz in the storm center. The 23-year-old himself would probably welcome that, and now knows this role very well.

The next two Nations League duels against Hungary (Friday) and England (Monday) should provide information. Then the German team wants to expand the series under Flick. “A streak of 13 games without defeat, like the one we’ve had, is of course good for us because you can feel that the new beginning is bearing fruit. If we play the next two games like this, it can give us a lot of self-confidence for the tournament.” , said Havertz.

Everything about the DFB team and Chelsea at 90min

This article was originally published on www.90min.de as Good for DFB team? Kai Havertz prefers to play on the nine released.

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