‘He has blown Chelsea’s title race’ – Paul Merson reveals why Chelsea can’t win the league after latest Tuchel decision
Earlier this season, it was claimed Chelsea can win the League, however, Injuries, Covid 19 issues has limit Chelsea chances of winning the league this season.
However, according to Paul Merson, Thomas Tuchel has ‘blown’ Chelsea’s chances of winning the Premier League title this season by dropping Romelu Lukaku against Liverpool.
In a recent interview with Sky Sport Italia, Lukaku expressed his dissatisfaction with his role at Stamford Bridge and admitted he wants to return to Inter Milan while still in his prime.
Tuchel responded by leaving the Belgium international out of Chelsea’s matchday squad for their crunch meeting with Liverpool last Sunday, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
The result has left the Blues trailing league leaders Manchester City by 10 points, while Liverpool are a point behind them with a game in hand.
Lukaku was brought back into the fold to play Tottenham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals in midweek, but Merson feels the damage to Chelsea’s title chances has already been done.
‘Romelu Lukaku will win something for Chelsea this season – but Thomas Tuchel has already blown the title by dropping him against Liverpool,’ Merson told the Daily Star.
‘They had to win that game to have any chance of chasing down Manchester City. Now they’re ten points behind and Liverpool are still right behind them.
‘People say Tuchel was right to drop him. But you know he’s not bombing him out of the club, so why drop him for your most important game of the season?
‘He came back a few days later against Tottenham. It makes no sense. It’s biting off your nose to spite your face.
‘Lukaku will play every game now. It will all be forgotten. And he will score goals. He’s a great striker. They will win something this season because his goals will carry them.
‘I thought he’d showed a lot of balls playing against Spurs. I think he did alright. I think there’s an issue because when he got back fit he had to sit on the bench.
‘Lukaku is one of those players who needs an arm around his shoulder and I don’t think Tuchel is showing him enough love.
‘But Chelsea are a better team with him in it, so for me he has to play every week now, and I think he will.’