Kai Havertz opens up on tough Chelsea start, says struggles shaped him

Kai Havertz has reflected on his difficult start at Chelsea, saying the challenges he faced after moving to England shaped him personally and professionally. The Arsenal forward also discussed his positional change, set pieces and his admiration for the Premier League.

London: Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has opened up about his difficult start to life in the Premier League with Chelsea and said the challenges he faced during his six years in England have shaped him into the player and person he is today.

Havertz joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 as a highly rated young attacking midfielder but admitted that his first few months in England were far more difficult than he had expected.

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The German international made the move during the Covid-19 pandemic, with matches being played without fans, but said the intensity and physicality of the Premier League still came as a major shock.

“When I first arrived in the Premier League after signing for Chelsea in 2020, I didn’t overthink it. I was young and wanted a new experience. I wanted to leave Germany, test myself, and grow as a player,” Havertz said in an interaction with JioHotstar.

“I thought it might be easier than it turned out to be, but then in my first few games, I realised how intense the league really is. It was during Covid, so without fans, the atmosphere was different, but the pace and physicality were still a shock,” he added.

Havertz admitted that he even questioned his decision to move to England during the early stages of his Chelsea career.

“For the first few weeks, I questioned if I had made the right choice. I struggled to make an impact and doubted myself. The first four or five months were really tough,” he said.

However, the experience ultimately proved valuable, with Havertz insisting that he would not change any part of his journey in England.

“Looking back now, after spending six years in England, I would never change anything that I’ve done. Even though some things didn’t go as planned and I wasn’t that successful in every moment, for me personally, I would never change anything because it made me the person I am now, the football player who I am now,” he said.

The 27-year-old also revealed how strongly he now feels connected to London, despite preparing to face his former club in a high-profile derby.

“Every struggle and every setback taught me something valuable. I grew stronger through the tough times, and those experiences shaped my character both on and off the pitch. London is my home now, and I’m very happy here in this lovely city. I feel settled, I feel loved, and I feel like I belong,” Havertz said.

Since joining Arsenal, Havertz has also undergone a tactical transformation, moving from an attacking midfield role into a more prominent position as a number nine.

“I started off more as a midfielder for Arsenal, but over time I moved into a number nine role. That change taught me a lot, especially how to use my body better in the box,” he said.

“I’m a big guy, and I need to make that count. I had to learn how to hold off defenders, win aerial duels, and be in the right positions to score. It took time, but I feel comfortable in that role now.”

Havertz also highlighted Arsenal’s emphasis on set pieces, which he believes played a major role in their Premier League success last season.

“At the same time, set pieces have become a huge part of our game. We treat them like penalties; every time we get one, we feel like we can score. We work on them tirelessly in training, and it shows in matches. We scored so many goals from set pieces last season, and that was a major reason why we lifted the Premier League trophy,” he said.

Ahead of the London derby, Havertz also underlined why he continues to regard the Premier League as the world’s best football competition.

“A footballer’s career is short, so I want to make the most of it. I want to play as many games as possible and keep improving, and that’s why I came to the Premier League because it’s the best league in the world,” he said.

“The level here is incredible; any team can beat anyone, and you must be at your best every single game. Doing that every three days makes it even tougher.”

Havertz added that the quality of the competition has continued to rise during his time in England.

“Over the last six years, I’ve seen the league get stronger each season. Clubs are spending more, signing better players, and the quality keeps rising. But that’s exactly what you want as a professional, to compete at the highest level against the best players,” he said.