Romelu Lukaku’s interview is cracking his relationship with Chelsea. Trainer Thomas Tuchel banned the Red Devil from his selection for the top match against Liverpool. Some whatsapps to ex-teammate Tim Howard caused even more noise. “Tomorrow/Monday we will make a decision whether Romelu will return against Tottenham.”
He wasn’t there, but the match between Chelsea and Liverpool revolved almost entirely around Romelu Lukaku.
Afterwards, most of the questions were about the situation of the striker. Trainer Thomas Tuchel gave the same defense to both the TV channels and the press conference.
“Romelu is our player and there will always be a way back,” said the coach. “We will solve this behind closed doors. We first want to evaluate the situation and understand why Romelu has made certain statements. That is why we will meet tomorrow (Monday, ed.) Then we will decide whether he is ready to play on Wednesday.” .”
According to Tuchel, that was not possible against Liverpool. “Because all the noise around the interview threatened to lose focus on the match. We wanted to protect Romelu by not making a hasty decision and talking to him.”
Tuchel showed no mercy for the record transfer earlier in the day.
After Lukaku’s critical interview, the German did not count on him for the top match against Liverpool.
At first, however, it seemed that the German trainer could frame Lukaku’s statements. He thought it was “an unnecessary distraction”, but immediately added that “we shouldn’t make it more than it is. It’s easy to take some statements out of context, when it’s actually not that bad and not what you mean.”
All the more so because the interview with Lukaku was taken about a month ago, just as he had just come back from an injury. The Red Devil mainly hoped to patch things up with the fans of Inter, but especially rebuked his current employer.
After a personal conversation with Lukaku, Tuchel now comes up with a statement – read: no one is bigger than the coach – by leaving his striker out of the selection.
It’s gotten too big. We must protect our preparation.
On the club’s website, Tuchel defended his choice to leave Lukaku out of the squad: “We spoke twice and Romelu did the same with the key players. Afterwards we realized that the case has become too big and too loud, too close to the match. We have to protect our preparation. It was a difficult decision, but one that had to be made.”
Whatsapps to Howard
For both parties, the issue comes at a particularly inopportune time. Lukaku just resurfaced in London after a few difficult months. Without his number 9, Chelsea now have to look for a crucial three-pointer against Liverpool to stay in the title race.
I can’t say much. The situation is “hot”. I have another meeting on Monday. Afterwards I can say more.
Meanwhile, the preview of the game at the American NBC puts Lukaku in an even more difficult position. While on the penalty bench, the striker whatsapped with his former Everton team-mate Tim Howard – currently an analyst at NBC.
According to a briefed presenter, Lukaku is said to have said that “the situation is hot” and “he can say more after another meeting on Monday.”
Hopefully they haven’t heard that at Chelsea…
Presenter Gary Lineker did stand up for Lukaku
