1. Chelsea do not play to Romelu Lukaku’s strengths
Thomas Tuchel has set Chelsea up in a really idiosyncratic manner. All through his time in London, the German has favoured aim threats slicing throughout diagonally – whether or not that is a wing-back or the large gamers within the entrance three.
The Blues do not get many gamers ahead anyway however Lukaku’s job at instances for the European champions has merely been to get out of the best way of different attackers. Havertz thrives within the house invader position: Lukaku doesn’t.
There’s extra to the ahead position than meets the attention at Chelsea and at Inter, the Belgian was entrance, centre and firmly within the highlight. Lautaro Martinez was there to help him moderately than the opposite manner spherical. On the Bridge, Lukaku is one of some celebrity forwards. It is markedly completely different.
2. He is been injured
Lukaku began the season brightly, bullying Arsenal in August and displaying his mettle because the climate turned colder and Chelsea led the desk.
However then he dropped out of the aspect with a sprain. When he did come again into the fold, the striker got here off the bench to construct his health again up, solely to undergo COVID. He got here again in opposition to Villa and Brighton… after which every part kicked off together with his notorious Sky Italia interview.
5 objectives within the league all season does not account for his absences. You get an look for eight minutes off the bench, too – like he had in opposition to Manchester United – so maybe a few of the stats are in opposition to him.
3. Lukaku’s not blissful in London
It is pure hypothesis, after all. The ahead gave an interview with Sky Italia which dropped after Christmas, saying that he wasn’t blissful at Chelsea and wished to return to Inter earlier than he was too previous.
Maybe a part of Lukaku’s battle this season has been in adapting to life off the pitch as a lot as on. The Belgian was blissful in Milan, reportedly did not wish to pressure a transfer, content material to stay on the San Siro. The criticism should get to you and it is a massive change to return to a membership like Chelsea. Perhaps it affected him.
4. He is merely not reached full confidence but
There have been loads of moments the place Romelu Lukaku has regarded like his previous self. However others the place he is regarded just like the Lukaku of the previous couple of months at Previous Trafford.
Every now and then at Chelsea, the likes of Mount, Ziyech and Pulisic have carried out all of the onerous work, just for Lukaku to not make the decisive run in direction of the ball, discovered the house crucial or busted a intestine to get into the field. We all know he can do it: he is carried out it a whole lot of instances.
Soccer is a sport of momentum and strikers depend on confidence and good habits. Generally this season, Lukaku hasn’t had that momentum: it is what has led Havertz to get the nod forward of him.
5. …He is truly not been that unhealthy
11 objectives in 33 appearances appears like a median return – however it’s truly a aim each 196 minutes. That is one simply over each different sport.
Contemplating the damage disaster that Chelsea have had, his personal struggles with health, COVID, the chop-and-change dynamic of Tuchel’s staff and the off-field settling in interval, that is not a horrendous return: definitely not unhealthy sufficient to make too a fuss over.
Chelsea have had a whole lot of issues this season – however absolutely Lukaku is one participant too good to fret to a lot about.
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