• March 15, 2022
• Olaoluwa Nwobodo

Havertz has started the last three games for Chelsea and has scored four goals in that space of time, this is a credit to him as there was a point in the season where he went on a lengthy spell where the German was not in the starting lineup. Chelsea fans have sometimes complained that Tuchel doesn’t use merit-based selection despite claiming to. Havertz continuous appearance in the starting lineup shows that this is not the case.

Havertz has been on fire when he has played recently, Lukaku simply has not. Many have suggested that Tuchel uses Lukaku in the lineup differently and Tuchel has denied that several times. Lukaku is Chelsea’s most expensive player as well as Chelsea’s highest earner, yet he has been on the bench for Chelsea’s last three games. That could have been interpreted in a number of ways but Tuchel himself has said that he’s starting because he deserves to, stating his form.

Havertz, for his part, has repaid the faith Tuchel has shown in him as he has been delivering goals and assists in spades. Many assumed Lukaku would start whenever fit, but Tuchel has stated several times that diligence and performances would be rewarded and he has kept his word.

A reason many may feel Tuchel doesn’t use merit to make team selection is often because fans judge “a good game” differently than the manager. These fans sometimes feel they know what the manager wanted the player to do, and therefore judge the player harshly when they don’t see that player do it.

Another reason is that because it’s very difficult to ignore public sentiment, fans often go along with public opinion on a player’s performance. This is dangerous, as some players are often judged more harshly than others, either due to the public perception of the player, or the position the player plays. Marcos Alonso suffers on both counts.

Many in the fanbase don’t like Alonso, despite him generally managing the responsibilities of the wingback position very well. In addition to the dislike for Alonso, the Spaniard also plays a very difficult position on the pitch. It’s often very easy to say a wingback has played badly. Wing backs are expected to be wingers and fullbacks all at the same time, so if a player does one and not the other, he’s often marked down. Havertz’s run should serve as encouragement for players who aren’t getting many chances in the starting eleven currently. They will get chances, but when they do they’d need to take those chances because if they do, Tuchel will be forced to give them more, especially if they perform better than their competitors in that position.