Chelsea's Havertz not burdened by 71 million pound price tag

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VIDEO SHOWS: KAI HAVERTZ PRESS CONFERENCE / FILE FOOTAGE OF KAI HAVERTZ TRAINING WITH BAYER LEVERKUSEN

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE WITH KAI HAVERTZ

SHOWS: DUESSELDORF, GERMANY (FILE - AUGUST 9, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2020".)

1. HAVERTZ STRETCHING

STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 16, 2020) (CHELSEA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAI HAVERTZ SAYING:

"Of course it's a big price tag but I think in football today it's normal to pay these prices. For me I will not do a lot of pressure on myself because I think I'm doing not the best, not the worst thing in the past, that's because the price tag is, or was, that high. So I'm just trying to focus on my football and try to play my best football here at Chelsea and try to do not that pressure on myself because I'm just playing football and I love to play football and that's why I'm here."

DUESSELDORF, GERMANY (FILE - AUGUST 9, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2020".)

3. HAVERTZ

STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 16, 2020) (CHELSEA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAI HAVERTZ SAYING:

"Of course I played I think every offensive position in Leverkuesen, I played as a right winger, as a number 10, as a number six, number eight, sometimes as a striker as well. But for me it's very important to have that flexibility on the pitch to be creative. That's the things that I like and I think I can play many positions. For me my best position is as a number 10 but of course I can play on the right side as well or as a striker. To be honest I'm happy to stay on the pitch, I think I'm flexible."

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY (FILE - NOVEMBER 5, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

5. KAI HAVERTZ AT TRAINING WITH BAYER LEVERKUSEN

STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 16, 2020) (CHELSEA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAI HAVERTZ SAYING:

"Chelsea is a very big club, I know this already. Of course for me it's a big step to come to another country, another culture, another language, it's very different than before. Of course that needs some days and weeks to adapt but I'm looking forward to it."

DUESSELDORF, GERMANY (FILE - AUGUST 9, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2020".)

7. HAVERTZ WARMING UP

STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 16, 2020) (CHELSEA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAI HAVERTZ SAYING:

"I was dreaming as a kid to play in the Premier League, to play for Chelsea as well because for me Chelsea is a very big club and one of the best in the world.

"I always dream to play in a league like that and for me the dream came true very early, I'm just 21."

DUESSELDORF, GERMANY (FILE - AUGUST 9, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2020".)

9. HAVERTZ WALKING INTO POSITION

STOKE D'ABERNON, ENGLAND, UK (AUGUST 16, 2020) (CHELSEA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAI HAVERTZ SAYING:

"I watched many games of him as a kid and he also liked the way of play as a midfielder to go in the box and score goals, make assists.

"I think that helps a lot to have a manager who played such a long time in the Premier League and the national team. He can give me tips and I think he will help me a lot to become a better football player, to become a better midfield player, so I'm very excited that he's my manager now."

DUESSELDORF, GERMANY (FILE - AUGUST 9, 2020) (UEFA - NO RESALES. NO COMMERCIAL USE. MUST ON-SCREEN COURTESY "©UEFA 2020".)

11. HAVERTZ DURING TRAINING MATCH

STORY: Chelsea's new recruit Kai Havertz has said he will not put pressure on himself to justify his price tag following his big-money move from German side Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month.

Havertz, 21, was signed by Chelsea for a reported fee of 71 million pounds ($91.36 million) -- a club record fee for an outfield player.

"Of course it's a big price tag but I think in football today it's normal to pay these prices," Havertz told reporters.

"I will not do a lot of pressure on myself because I think I'm doing not the best, not the worst thing in the past, that's because the price tag is, or was, that high.

"I'm just trying to focus on my football and try to play my best football here at Chelsea and try to do not that pressure on myself because I'm just playing football and I love to play football and that's why I'm here."

With striker Timo Werner and winger Hakim Ziyech also joining the club in the close season, Havertz is expected to slot in at the number 10 position behind the striker.

However, the Germany international said he considered himself a versatile player who could play in a variety of attacking roles and would even be at ease on the wing or up front.

"I played as a right winger, as a number 10, as a number six, number eight, sometimes as a striker as well.

"But for me it's very important to have that flexibility on the pitch to be creative. That's the things that I like and I think I can play many positions. For me my best position is as a number 10 but of course I can play on the right side as well or as a striker.

Chelsea, who won their season opener 3-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion, host champions Liverpool on Sunday.

($1 = 0.7771 pounds)

(Production: Andy Ragg)