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Timo Werner simply needs to enjoy his football again after ending his frustrating Chelsea spell by returning to RB Leipzig, according to his new head coach Domenico Tedesco.
The Germany forward failed to live up to expectations after arriving at Stamford Bridge for a fee of £47.5million (€50m) two years ago, scoring just 10 Premier League goals in 56 appearances.
Werner had previously made his name during a four-year spell at Leipzig, for whom his tally of 95 goals remains a club record, and re-joined the side on a four-year contract this week for a fee said to be around £25m.
Tedesco, who led Leipzig to a fourth-placed Bundesliga finish after taking over midway through last season, is keen to avoid heaping pressure on the 26-year-old following his disappointing time in the Premier League.
“As for Timo, there is no pressure at all,” Tedesco told a news conference. “Of course, we notice what kind of commotion that’s creating. He’s coming back, he played for Leipzig before as you know.
“He did a good job then. That’s all we ask for. He just needs to enjoy what he’s doing. He did the full pre-season with Chelsea but only played two games with them.
“So we will not burden him. We all have to be careful that we don’t overload him. We just want him to have fun, show his strengths, of which he has many.
“The rest will come bit by bit. This won’t happen overnight.”
Leipzig recorded 28 shots and enjoyed 68 per cent of the possession in their Bundesliga opener at Stuttgart last Sunday, but could only manage a 1-1 draw after taking the lead eight minutes in.
Tedesco’s side have also added David Raum and Xaver Schlager for eight-figure fees in the transfer window, but he insists their arrivals have not placed him under greater pressure to deliver, adding: “I am happy to have these guys on our team. You feel the biggest pressure from yourself.
“We would like to play every game like the one in Stuttgart but then also win. Other than that, [we want] the feeling to look forward and the joy to have a squad like this.
“We are looking forward to midweek fixtures soon. Then we can get things going with this squad. This will also be important.
“It makes a difference if we play every seven days or every three and a half days. Playing will be more fun. It was like that last season and now our team is even broader.”
Leipzig host Koln in their first home match of the Bundesliga season on Saturday.
