Alan Shearer and Ashley Cole single out Timo Werner after Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Manchester City

Alan Shearer praised Timo Werner (Picture: BBC Sport)

Alan Shearer and Ashley Cole hailed the performance of Timo Werner in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals.

The Germany international caused City problems throughout with his runs in behind and he laid on an assist for match-winner Hakim Ziyech in the second half.

There were warning signs for City early on, with Ziyech only denied a first-half opener because Werner was ruled narrowly offside, but they were unable to stop Chelsea’s pacy counter-attacking as a similar move resulted in a goal later in the match.

Werner has come under fire for his struggles in front of goal in his first season in English football but former Newcastle striker Shearer was hugely impressed by his efforts.

‘It was a brilliant run from Werner and Ziyech just has to put it in the back of the net,’ Shearer told the BBC.

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‘We said about Werner before the game, we highlighted some of the sitters he’s missed this season but that’s why he was in the team today.

Werner put in a good performance (Picture: Getty)

‘That’s why he was asked to play on the last defender to run in behind because he knew City would struggle.’

‘Chelsea deserved it, they were the ones that created the chances.’

Cole, the former Chelsea and Arsenal defender, also praised Werner’s movement and felt his ‘decoy runs’ allowed Ziyech chances to get in behind.

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‘This is why I love the way Werner plays. He isolates people, he drops a little bit deeper, that decoy run and then you get Ziyech running in behind in between the two centre-backs.

‘That caused Manchester City problems all day, to be honest.’

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