Is Tuchel to blame for Lukaku's troubles at Chelsea?
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
- 4 min read
Just 12 months ago Romelu Lukaku was one of the best players in world football. Fast forward to the present day and that couldn't be further from the truth.
Five league goals was a tally many would've expected Lukaku to have hit before he reached double digits for appearances, but that's his Premier League goal count for the entire season.
Of course, it's important to note he's only started 12 games in the division, but he's also made little impact when coming off the bench and even struggled against League One Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.
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Reduced to a bit-part role since the infamous interview he conducted with Sky Italia about his desire to move back to Inter, Lukaku is now firmly a rotation option at Chelsea, and his future at the club is in doubt.
His last Premier League start came in February when he broke the record for the fewest touches in an English top flight game since records began. He's been dropped to the bench since then.
Just one year after breaking Chelsea's record for their most expensive player in history, Lukaku could already be on the way out. His miss in Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace summed up his second spell at Stamford Bridge so far. Timo Werner squared the ball for the Belgian, but with the goal gaping, he dragged his shot onto the post, denying him a fourth FA Cup goal of the campaign.
Kai Havertz is Thomas Tuchel's preferred choice through the middle, with the German's ability to press complimenting Tuchel's style as much as his ability to drop deep and link up with the likes of Mason Mount.
Following the electric start he showed in the victory over Arsenal in the first weeks of the season, many expected Lukaku to kick on and fire Chelsea to the title, but that hasn't materialised.
He looks devoid of confidence and hasn't been able to make an impact off the bench in recent weeks. For someone so talented, it's strange to see Lukaku struggle so much.
Excellent on the counter-attack for Inter, those strengths haven't necessarily been played to by Chelsea, which has raised questions Tuchel's way.
Is Tuchel at fault for Lukaku's poor form?
Former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot feels sympathy for Lukaku and believes the Belgian forward and Tuchel need to work together to improve the situation.
"Coming with so much confidence and then going through the moments he’s going through now, the only thing he can do for himself is have a good chat, understand what the coach wants because I don’t always think that Lukaku really understands what’s expected from him in the system that Tuchel wants to play," Melchiot told TalkSport.
Lukaku was criticised for his hold-up play at Manchester United, and upon joining Inter, Antonio Conte designed his system around getting Lukaku into the right-hand channel with space to run into. It worked a treat, with the forward delivering the Scudetto back to Inter last season.
But at Chelsea, the same circumstances haven't been mirrored. Of course, for such an expensive player Lukaku should be able to adapt to Tuchel's more possession-heavy style, but he hasn't been able to stamp his authority on how Chelsea play.
Although Tuchel could tinker and alter his shape in order to maximise Lukaku's ouput, it's not worth sacrificing the team to ensure Lukaku scores goals. Havertz, Mason Mount and Timo Werner have developed a lovely connection in the forward line, and Tuchel would be foolish to disrupt that.
Lukaku can't blame Tuchel for the current situation and will simply need to prove he's good enough to start for Chelsea or face the exit door already.
