"A lot of rubbish" – Tottenham flop admits fan abuse had big impact

Werner admits fan abuse in England and Germany affected him mentally during his career struggles at Chelsea and Tottenham.

Timo Werner has opened up about the toll of fan abuse throughout his career in Europe. The German forward, now at San Jose Earthquakes in MLS, revealed that mockery from opposing supporters had a significant psychological impact on him, particularly after a diving incident against Schalke in 2016 that made him a target for years.

Werner's time in the Premier League proved disappointing. After Chelsea signed him for €53m in 2020, he managed only 23 goals and 21 assists in 89 games before returning to Leipzig. His subsequent loan spell at Tottenham from January 2024 to 2025 yielded just three goals and seven assists in 41 games, making him the focus of fan criticism at both clubs.

Speaking on The Late Run Podcast, Werner described the emotional toll: "There were moments when I'd sit at home, feeling completely crushed. No matter which stadium I went to, I was booed everywhere." He explained that the abuse followed him for years across multiple cities and stadiums, compounding the pressure of his underperformance on the pitch.