Thomas Tuchel admits Timo Werner missing big chances 'does not help'

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has hinted at frustration with striker Timo Werner, who missed a golden chance to score for the second game in a row as the Blues failed to make the most of early dominance in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in Spain.

Chelsea left the Spanish capital with an away goal and a slight aggregate advantage ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg, but it could have been more had Werner, who has scored just 11 times since a £47.5m transfer last summer, converted from close range.

The early chance went begging as the German forward lacked the conviction to beat Thibaut Courtois, whose outstretched boot deflected the ball clear. Chelsea did eventually take the lead through Christian Pulisic, only to be pegged back by Karim Benzema.

The Werner miss came just days after he had squandered another top chance in the recent win over West Ham, although that game also produced his first Premier League goal in well over a month.

Low confidence in front of goal has been a major obstacle for a player who scored 34 goals in 45 appearances for Leipzig last season. Tuchel’s frustration showed after the final whistle in Madrid but he is keen not to dwell on the recent misses and look ahead.

“He missed a big one at West Ham and now he's missed a big one here, that does not help. But it doesn't help crying about it or regretting it all the time,” the Chelsea boss is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

“The good thing about sport is that no one cares tomorrow, today we were sad and angry in the moment - this is normal. He is sad, he is angry and disappointed. He's a top guy, a professional guy. He works hard. He's in the positions. He will not stop believing.

“I don't feel we are pointing fingers but of course the strikers want to score, to do it for themselves and the team. This is the highest level and when you have a good half an hour like we did with so many chances and half chances, then, yes, we'd wish for more composure and more precision in the decision making and finishing. The challenge was not to worry about that and to not regret too long.”

For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!