Chelsea forward Kai Havertz has discussed his fear of missing his one-on-one in the Champions League final, as well as revealing how he is adapting to life in the Premier League.
The Germany international was the most expensive arrival in a busy summer at Chelsea under Frank Lampard last year, making the switch from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in a then club-record deal worth in the region of £72m.
Following that high profile move to Stamford Bridge, the youngster initially struggled for form and game time in the first-half of the 2020/21 campaign, although both injury and illness also played a part in his lack of action.
With compatriot Thomas Tuchel taking charge in January, Havertz went on to play a pivotal role in the club’s surge to the Champions League final, going on to net the winning goal – and his first ever in the competition – against Manchester City to clinch the trophy.
Speaking about that game-winning moment – which saw the versatile forward latch on to a Mason Mount through-ball and take it around the onrushing Ederson to score – the 22-year-old revealed his nerves at potentially missing the chance and becoming a meme on social media.
“These moments, they are always the worst,” he told Chelsea’s official website.
“Because you think if I miss this one then of course you are on YouTube, on Instagram and in every meme, so I was just thinking: ‘Please, I have to score now.’
“Then, of course, it happened and then these are the best moments in football.”
Following that iconic goal, the German starlet has kicked on this season to become a vital part of Tuchel’s forward line, with the player insisting that it has taken time to adapt to a ‘different type of football’ in England.
“Of course you get used to it when you play some games, when you have some matches, when you are here in England for some months,” he said.
“It’s a different type of football, but I think you get used to it and it was the same for me. After six months it was easier for me and then I settled in very well.
“I feel very good on the pitch and you are more relaxed on the pitch to play. Then, of course, it was getting a little bit better and now I’m used to it and I’m feeling very good.”
