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Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says it is not surprising to see Chelsea’s two new German recruits, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, fighting in their debut season in the Premier League.
Germany’s two internationals were Chelsea’s most expensive signings during the summer, both coming from the Bundesliga, but have struggled to have a sustained impact so far this season.
Werner, who has four goals and five assists in the league this season, has gone 11 games without scoring for Chelsea in all competitions and has said he is having a difficult time adjusting to life in the Premier League.
Havertz, meanwhile, hasn’t been productive since his arrival, managing just one goal and two assists in the league, and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said last month that patience is required when it comes to the 21-year-old.
Sunday January 3 4:15 pm
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Kai Havertz and Timo Werner have yet to live up to expectations at Chelsea
Gundogan, who made the same transition when he joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, knows exactly what his teammates from Germany are going through and is confident that they will prove themselves at Chelsea.
“They have two new German players who have tried to adapt as well as possible,” Gundogan said. Sky Sports News before Sunday’s trip to Chelsea.
“In general, I think it is not easy to adapt quickly to the Premier League when you come from a different country and now with the current situation I think it is even more difficult.
“So I think it’s quite normal that they are fighting a bit, but they are both incredibly talented and I’m sure they can both show it in this league.
‘The open title race makes this season so special’
Gundogan was impressed by Chelsea’s summer spending and expects Sunday’s opponents to challenge alongside City throughout the season in what he calls a “very open” title race. Chelsea and City are among the chasing group at the moment, seven points behind first place, although the Manchester club have two games in hand.
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City are without five players for the trip to Stamford Bridge after a coronavirus outbreak in the team that saw their game against Everton postponed on Monday.
Despite traveling with a weakened team, City will know that Sunday’s game is a good opportunity to raise their position in the table with Chelsea struggling to stay fit, winning just one of their last five games.
Gundogan was one of the City teams that won back-to-back Premier League titles with Pep Guardiola and, after watching Liverpool dethrone them last season, the German international is determined to bring City back to the top of English football.
“There is not one team that is dominating, not just in England but in all of Europe,” said Gundogan.
“All the leagues in the world seem very open at the moment and I think it is quite exciting. In the Premier League it is exciting for all the clubs, the fans, so let’s see what’s going to happen.
“Obviously you want to win games and you want to get back to first place, but they are all challenging and competing with everything they have. That is what makes this Premier League season so special.
“Like every year, Chelsea have a great team with incredible players, they are a great team and they have a really ambitious coach, so I feel like they will really challenge us. Not only on the weekend, but also in the league in general.
“In the summer they got some young and very talented recruits, they spent a lot of money and they got some really good players, so I think they will do well. They have done well, of course it is also a team that fights like everyone else. quality and Sunday will be a great game. “
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