Tuchel: Why I dropped Lukaku
FT Desk
- 2 Jan 2022 16:27 GMT
- 3 min read
Thomas Tuchel has explained the reasons for dropping Romelu Lukaku for the match against Liverpool on Sunday.
Lukaku caused uproar ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge when he gave an unauthorised interview with Sky Italia during which he declared that he was unhappy at Chelsea, criticised Tuchel and expressed regret for leaving Inter last summer.
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The Belgian also said that he hoped to return to Inter while he was still at the top level and that his former teammate Lautaro Martinez would not join Chelsea as he would be rejoining the Argentine at San Siro.
This sparked fury at Chelsea with manager Tuchel admitting in his pre-match press conference that the interview was “not helpful”.
Tuchel proceeded to drop Lukaku for Sunday’s Premier League match against Liverpool, with the ex-Inter star not even selected on the bench.
The German manager explained why Lukaku was left out in his pre-match interview just before the game.
“The thing got too big, too noisy so close to the match. So I decided to protect the preparation for the match and that is why he is out,” Tuchel told Sky.
“We [Lukaku and I] have spoken twice. I spoke to the main players and after that we had to realise that it was too big and too close to the match.
"It got too noisy - that's why he's out."
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's Super Sunday match with Liverpool, Thomas Tuchel explained why he has left Romelu Lukaku out of the match day squad. ❌ pic.twitter.com/MwpDcsn2wT— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 2, 2022
“So we delayed the decision of what to do about it. We have a big game to play and we need full focus, which is difficult even with this decision. But it is easier if he is not in the squad.
“It was a difficult decision to take but it was the right decision to take.”
It remains to be seen what action will be taken against Lukaku by Chelsea following the game against Liverpool.
There have been reports that Lukaku is deeply unhappy in London and wants to quit the club immediately, preferably to return to Inter.
Lukaku joined Chelsea from Inter only six months ago for a fee of €115 million, but he has struggled to justify that fee so far and this latest incident has only worsened the situation.
