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Kai Havertz dedicated his late winner against Newcastle United to Chelsea’s fans and staff amid off-field uncertainty at Stamford Bridge.
The 22-year-old controlled a pinpoint pass from Jorginho and poked the ball past Martin Dubravka in the 89th minute to secure a 1-0 victory for the Blues.
It comes at the end of a turbulent week in which sanctions placed on Roman Abramovich by the UK government have had several consequences for the club.
Chelsea is not allowed to sell tickets or merchandise, cannot buy players or extend contracts, and leaves their long-term ability to pay the wages of staff in doubt.
‘Of course, it’s tough but for us, we have to say we players, the staff as well, we are privileged to train and continue (doing) what we love and of course, it’s hard for everyone, not only us,’ Havertz said after the Blues’ win over Newcastle.
‘We feel sorry for everyone in the club, the fans, also the workers, not only for us professionals, for the academy, for everyone it’s a tough time.
‘But I think we try to give everything for them at the moment, and if you can give them moments like this it’s always nice. We have to stand together in these times, we try to do that, win games and give them a good feeling.’
Newcastle had frustrated Chelsea for much of the afternoon before Havertz finally broke the deadlock with a minute of the 90 left to play.
‘(It was) amazing to score in the last minute like this,’ the German said. ‘It was very tough, they made life very hard, especially in the first half.
‘Upfront it was tough, they have big defenders, they always tried to block us, to foul us. But at half time we spoke about it, we knew it was a tough game, so we dug in, tried to give our best, and at the end it’s a brilliant win.’
However, the Magpies will have felt that Havertz should not have even been on the pitch after he appeared to catch Dan Burn in the face with his elbow when competing with the defender for a header.
Despite protests from Newcastle players, referee David Coote only gave the Chelsea star a yellow card and the VAR did not recommend that the decision be changed.
‘I would sympathize with Newcastle fans for sure,’ Micah Richards said on Sky Sports. ‘I agree he (Havertz) didn’t mean to do it, that isn’t the point.
‘But it’s difficult. Because the referee gave a yellow card, is it then a clear mistake to overturn? I don’t think so.’
Jamie Redknapp added: ‘I still think it’s a red card, I know he said he didn’t mean it but I don’t think that’s the point, it’s reckless and out of control.’
Giving his take on the incident, Havertz said: ‘Sometimes, of course, it looks like this (on TV), on the pitch it’s different.
‘I think people know me not as a player who does things like this, and this guy (Dan Burn) is like, I don’t know, seven or eight foot tall and I have to jump, and of course, as anyone knows you have to use your arms to jump.
‘And when I jump and he’s like two heads higher than me, of course sometimes it’s tough. I can say sorry to him because I saw he has an injury on the head, and I feel bad of course, but you cannot tell me that I do this on purpose, but I’m sorry for this.’
Vincent Paul
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