Thomas Tuchel insists Romelu Lukaku remains an important part of the Chelsea squad for next season.
Romelu Lukaku has failed to live up to expectations since his big-money move from Inter Milan to Chelsea.
Chelsea paid 98 million pounds for the service of the Belgian striker.
For the 28 years, old Chelsea striker has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain, and Inter Milan, having already admitted in an interview with Sky sport that he would want to return to Inter Milan.
Lukaku has found the net 5 times in 23 Premier League appearances this season for Chelsea and has spent most of the season injured or on the bench.
The Belgian striker has lost his place in Chelsea’s starting lineup to Kai Havertz and has fallen out with Thomas Tuchel after his controversial interview with Sky Sports around Christmas, discussing his unhappiness at Chelsea and professing his love for Inter.
However, Lukaku did apologize to the Fans and Thomas Tuchel for the things he said in the interview.
What did Thomas Tuchel say?
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Wolves he said:’’Always, yes and yes’’.
‘’I want him to be an important part of the squad. Right now, he is a very important part of the squad next season.
‘’There is no way, no recruitment, no players about to leave because it is simply not possible.
‘’If the situation changes, we need anyway to adapt all the time to contractual situations, individual situations of the players, what we want and think, and what the development will be.
‘’We signed a big player, and he is still a big player. He didn’t come on (vs Everton) because we had three changes and used one.
‘’Unfortunately, I had to use one at half-time for Jorgi. Otherwise, there was a huge chance we would have had the same changes as against West Ham, where he was involved with Hakim and Pulisic to turn the game in our favor. He trained very well, and maybe he will start tomorrow. Let’s see.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel believes Chelsea takeover challenges are causing on-field problems.
Thomas Tuchel says that Chelsea’s protracted search for a new owner and the UK government’s penalties against the club is affecting their on-field performance.
When quizzed whether Chelsea’s off-field challenges are affecting the club’s performances, he said: “It surely affects the team, but I cannot tell you to which degree.
‘’The longer the situation goes, now it has a huge effect because Toni leaves us in the middle of the process where we are sanctioned and could not even fight, do another offer or be in negotiations.
‘’It clearly has an effect, and it makes no sense to deny it. We lose one of our key players, so it is proven and has this kind of effect. This decision affects the dressing room because Toni is not isolated here at Cobham and does not talk to anyone.
“He is a huge part, a leader. The situation is like this. The situation regarding the future of every individual player is not clear.
‘’There are no talks for anybody at the moment. We try to minimize this and accept it, not use it as an excuse. If there is any degree of distraction or uncertainty, we accept it. There is still another 100% to reach. This is still our level.
