Chelsea show the fight that 'fragile' Lukaku lacks

Carlo Garganese

• 2 Jan 2022 12:37 CST
• 4 min read

“He’s a big soppy cat more than a panther, he has never been hungry or determined in the big situations.

“I think Chelsea are tearing their hair out with regret over this transfer, especially as they didn’t even really need this player.

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“This interview shows the weakness of an athlete who after six months gives up, perhaps because he arrived there with the arrogance of someone who doesn’t realise what his real level is.

“Chelsea play much better without Lukaku. He is a fragile player, so he seems to have character, but when he talks like that, the truth is he is very fragile.

“Lukaku scored an incredible own goal here, it was a disastrous interview that made absolutely everybody unhappy, including himself.”

These were the damning words of former Premier League star Paolo Di Canio on Sky Sport Italia, the same network that only a few days earlier had aired an interview that has caused chaos at Stamford Bridge.

During that interview Lukaku declared that he was unhappy at Chelsea, criticised manager Thomas Tuchel and expressed regret for leaving Inter last summer.

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 among fans and inside the walls at the Bridge, and 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 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 said in explaining his decision.

“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.

“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.”

As it turns out, Tuchel was justified for leaving Lukaku out.

Despite a disastrous December in which Chelsea’s title challenge has all but fallen apart, the home side showed incredible heart to battle back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Liverpool.

Chelsea looked like they were on their way to a hammering as Liverpool went 2-0 inside the first 26 minutes through Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Given their terrible run of form – just three wins in their last eight Premier League games – and all the drama surrounding Lukaku and Tuchel, one would have expected Chelsea to capitulate.

But they showed their togetherness by launching a stunning comeback. Mateo Kovacic scored a rare goal with an early contender for goal of the year, an incredible first-time volley that defied physics. And then Christian Pulisic made it 2-2 with a fine finish before half-time.

Chelsea had the better chances to make it 2-2 but in the end they had to settle for a point.

The result does no good for either Chelsea or Liverpool’s title dreams. Chelsea are now 10 points behind runaway leaders Man City, while Liverpool are 11 points away – albeit with a game in hand.

But in the grand scheme of things, this was a victory for Tuchel as his players showed they are with him and fighting for him.

Tuchel had to leave Lukaku out, any other call would have made him look weak. And now his position is strengthened in the coming days when Chelsea decide how to punish Lukaku for his actions.