Thomas Tuchel explains why Romelu Lukaku was dropped for Chelsea vs Lille

Romelu Lukaku starts on the bench for Chelsea's Champions League tie against Lille
Romelu Lukaku begins on the bench for Chelsea’s Champions League tie (Getty)

Thomas Tuchel dropped Romelu Lukaku for Chelsea’s Champions League conflict towards Lille on Tuesday night.

The Belgium worldwide has struggled to make an influence in latest weeks, whereas throughout Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on the weekend, he registered simply seven touches.

For the primary leg of Chelsea’s last-16 Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel opted to bench Lukaku and start with an attacking trio of Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic.

‘I felt him a bit of bit drained,’ Tuchel mentioned when requested about Lukaku’s absence.

‘He seemed a bit exhausted and you need to think about that he’s performed quite a bit.

‘We’ve had additional time [in the Club World Cup final], loads of travelling lately and it wasn’t simple for him towards Palace, this wasn’t his finest efficiency.

‘So possibly will probably be a bit simpler for him to come back on from the bench tonight and switch issues round if we want him.’

Romelu Lukaku registered just seven touches during Chelsea's win over Crystal Palace
Romelu Lukaku registered simply seven touches throughout Chelsea’s win over Crystal Palace (Getty)

Former Chelsea and England supervisor Glenn Hoddle felt Tuchel was proper to axe Lukaku given his latest efficiency.

‘It’s clearly a giant name however I feel it’s the correct one,’ Hoddle instructed BT Sport.

‘He’s not been enjoying properly sufficient and any supervisor has bought the correct to drop a participant if he’s not enjoying as much as his perfect.

‘Since that interview, let’s face it, he’s been no the place close to his finest. He’s had an damage, he had that silly interview which upset every little thing, it’s upset him greater than something.

‘On the finish of the day, it’s time to take him out, they weren’t doing too dangerous with out him with no recognised centre ahead.’

Tuchel’s choice was, in the end, vindicated because the reigning European champions secured a 2-0 victory courtesy of objectives from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic.

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