Thomas Tuchel opens up on the role Romelu Lukaku fulfils at Chelsea
According to Football Italia (h/t The Mirror), Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has opened up on the role that ace striker Romelu Lukaku fulfils at the club following his return to Stamford Bridge earlier this summer.
The 28-year-old returned to Stamford Bridge after the club paid a whopping £98.5million to Italian champions Inter Milan. The deal set a new club record. Lukaku has since made appearances for the Blues, scoring four goals.
While he has failed to score in his last five appearances for the club, Lukaku is still the undisputed first-choice striker at the Bridge. Given the transformation he has brought about in the team’s attack it is not surprising.
According to the report, Tuchel has revealed that he needed to strengthen Chelsea’s formation from last season. The addition of Lukaku into the squad appears to have aided him in just that.
“We were looking for a very physical striker, a point of reference, a player with a personality who could lift the pressure off the shoulders of the younger players and give us the chance to play faster football.”
The Belgian giant is a domineering figure who is clinical in the box. There are few players who fit the moniker of a target man better than the 28-year-old. This has allowed the midfield to play a bigger role so far this season.
Lukaku failed to find the back of the net even once during his first stint at Chelsea. He has now returned as a better-rounded player amongst the best in the world in his position.
“Returning to England, where he played as a young man, was important for him. I knew he was an extraordinary person.”
Having led Inter Milan to the Serie A title last season, Lukaku will be keen to experience similar success with Chelsea. Tuchel appears to be well aware of how to utilize his big man. That augurs well for the club going ahead.
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In a blow to Tuchel, Lukaku was forced to withdraw from the Belgium squad due to muscle fatigue. Whether he will make it in time to feature against Brentford on the 16th remains to be seen.
