Havertz joined Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 as a highly rated young attacking midfielder but admitted that his first few months in England were far more difficult than he had expected.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The German international made the move during the Covid-19 pandemic, with matches being played without fans, but said the intensity and physicality of the Premier League still came as a major shock.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen I first arrived in the Premier League after signing for Chelsea in 2020, I didn\u2019t overthink it. I was young and wanted a new experience. I wanted to leave Germany, test myself, and grow as a player,\u201d Havertz said in an interaction with JioHotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI thought it might be easier than it turned out to be, but then in my first few games, I realised how intense the league really is. It was during Covid, so without fans, the atmosphere was different, but the pace and physicality were still a shock,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Havertz admitted that he even questioned his decision to move to England during the early stages of his Chelsea career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor the first few weeks, I questioned if I had made the right choice. I struggled to make an impact and doubted myself. The first four or five months were really tough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, the experience ultimately proved valuable, with Havertz insisting that he would not change any part of his journey in England.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLooking back now, after spending six years in England, I would never change anything that I\u2019ve done. Even though some things didn\u2019t go as planned and I wasn\u2019t that successful in every moment, for me personally, I would never change anything because it made me the person I am now, the football player who I am now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 27-year-old also revealed how strongly he now feels connected to London, despite preparing to face his former club in a high-profile derby.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEvery struggle and every setback taught me something valuable. I grew stronger through the tough times, and those experiences shaped my character both on and off the pitch. London is my home now, and I\u2019m very happy here in this lovely city. I feel settled, I feel loved, and I feel like I belong,\u201d Havertz said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Since joining Arsenal, Havertz has also undergone a tactical transformation, moving from an attacking midfield role into a more prominent position as a number nine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI started off more as a midfielder for Arsenal, but over time I moved into a number nine role. That change taught me a lot, especially how to use my body better in the box,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m a big guy, and I need to make that count. I had to learn how to hold off defenders, win aerial duels, and be in the right positions to score. It took time, but I feel comfortable in that role now.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Havertz also highlighted Arsenal\u2019s emphasis on set pieces, which he believes played a major role in their Premier League success last season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAt the same time, set pieces have become a huge part of our game. We treat them like penalties; every time we get one, we feel like we can score. We work on them tirelessly in training, and it shows in matches. We scored so many goals from set pieces last season, and that was a major reason why we lifted the Premier League trophy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ahead of the London derby, Havertz also underlined why he continues to regard the Premier League as the world\u2019s best football competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA footballer\u2019s career is short, so I want to make the most of it. I want to play as many games as possible and keep improving, and that\u2019s why I came to the Premier League because it\u2019s the best league in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe level here is incredible; any team can beat anyone, and you must be at your best every single game. Doing that every three days makes it even tougher.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA footballer\u2019s career is short, so I want to make the most of it. I want to play as many games as possible and keep improving, and that\u2019s why I came to the Premier League because it\u2019s the best league in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOver the last six years, I\u2019ve seen the league get stronger each season. Clubs are spending more, signing better players, and the quality keeps rising. But that\u2019s exactly what you want as a professional, to compete at the highest level against the best players,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n