Thomas Tuchel still needs answer to Chelsea's £120m Bundesliga raid that kickstarted new era

The message from Frank Lampard was always consistent: Timo Werner and Kai Havertz would come good at Chelsea but patience was required. There would be no quick fix. Unfortunately for the club legend, those within the Blues' hierarchy felt differently.

It was on this day last year that Thomas Tuchel replaced Lampard at the helm at Stamford Bridge. Results had been poor and needed improvement, especially with Chelsea ninth in the Premier League table. Yet there was also a suspicion the Blues turned to a German coach to unlock Werner and Havertz.

Signed for a combined £120million from RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, the German internationals were expected to turn Chelsea from top-four hopefuls into title challengers under Lampard.

Werner started well with eight goals in his opening eleven games, but his form then completely disintegrated. Havertz, meanwhile, was used as an attack-minded number eight without great success. He then suffered badly from Covid and struggled to regain his place in the side.

"The people that question them should look at other top players that have come at a young age to this country," Lampard insisted passionately 12 months ago. "Eden Hazard is a great example – he came here, [started slowly] but became one of our greater players ever.

"It's not an easy transition to this league. It's a hard league. I think people that question them should give them time because they are great lads and we signed them for now and the future."

Tuchel was asked outright at his unveiling as Chelsea head coach if he was hired to make good on the signings of Werner and Havertz. As supporters have since come to expect from the 48-year-old, he delivered an amusing yet honest response.

"If it is like