Chelsea hero Michael Ballack has urged fans to be patient with Kai Havertz.
Ballack insists the former Bayer Leverkusen will eventually prove his quality with the Blues.
He told Omnisport: "It is important for Chelsea to understand that if you buy a player with that kind of potential, then you have to give him time, bit by bit.
"So he can be in that role and that the team can be built around him. At the moment there are too many players that fight for many positions. There are only a few players that are so to speak 'untouchable'.
"Therefore he now faces a normal competitive scenario. It just depends on him, if he is able to win it.
"He needs that will, but if he sees it and takes on the fight then he will be able to get that spot as he has exceptional football qualities.
"However it is a different level than at Leverkusen. Therefore he has to live with it.
"At Leverkusen, they forced the game onto him with a lot of freedom. He didn't have to chase the ball and was used to attack.
"He probably has some issues now with the rhythm. That means, the game is a bit different. He now also has to work back and work harder on pressuring the opponent."
