Werner Knew It He Would "Hurt" Leipzig in Champions League Hopes

Former RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner has spoken with SportBuzzer about his move the Chelsea and how it was a choice he knew would hurt his former team's chance in the UEFA Champions League. Still, Werner stood by his decision and has no regrets about joining the major club from London.

"I tried to keep out of the Champions League issue as much as I could," said Werner. "It was clear that I would have to hurt one side. That's why my agent finally agreed to it with the clubs."

Werner's departure from Leipzig comes as the team prepares to enter the Champions League quarterfinals, a position they reached with the 90-plus-goal scoring striker. The unusual nature of this year's competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to games being played in August, the latest it has ever been contested. However, the rules for the transfer market have remained the same, meaning that Werner becomes a Chelsea player on July 1st. 

What is even more perplexing is that Werner won't be eligible for Chelsea in Europe. He won't be able to make his first appearance until the start of the 2020-21 campaign. Currently, Chelsea are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and are trailing Bayern Munich in the Champions League by 3-0. Werner will be training with his new club but not a part of the team on the field until all current competitions are settled.

"I am forever connected with Leipzig and RB," said Werner. "I will sit in front of the TV during the quarterfinals and keep my fingers crossed. Maybe I can even be onsite in Lisbon."

The schedule for Leipzig's Champions League return has yet to be released and the club still awaits a future opponent. All that is known is that the competition will happen in August and be concluded under one-game knockout rules. Currently, Leipzig has already qualified for next season's continental league by way of finishing in third place in the Bundesliga.