‘I was impressed in training’ – Tuchel reveals why Chelsea player could start against Wolves
According to Thomas Tuchel, Romelu Lukaku is still a “major player” for Chelsea, and the striker might make his long-awaited Premier League debut against Wolves on Saturday.
Lukaku has struggled in his debut season back in England after joining Stamford Bridge for a club record £97.5 million (€115 million) in July.
Only 12 goals have been scored by the striker, who stated in a December interview with Sky Sport Italia that he was unhappy with his job under Tuchel.
Lukaku has been left out in the cold, having not started a Premier League game since a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in February.
Tuchel, Belgium’s all-time greatest scorer, has been linked with a return to Inter at the conclusion of the season, but he insists he has a future at Chelsea and might play against Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
When asked about Lukaku’s future, Blues manager Antonio Conte said: “Yes, I want him to be a vital member of the team.
“He is currently a key member of the group, and there will be no recruitment next season [due to sanctions imposed on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich] and no players will be leaving because it is simply not possible.
“We signed a big name who is still a big name. He has put in a lot of work and may start tomorrow.”
As Lukaku tries to establish his worth, Tuchel has emphasized the necessity of “trust and dedication.”
“I’m not sure what needs to be done. He needs to happen. Everything must take place. At this level, it’s the life of a professional football player “Tuchel continued.
“Everyone gives it their all, and every player is no exception. Of course, we try our hardest to integrate him, and it is necessary. He must take place. We need to back him up and believe in what we’re doing.
“We are unable to provide any assistance in this regard. It’s all about trust, devotion, a sense of the game, a little luck, and game momentum. That concludes it.”
Third-placed After a 1-0 setback to Everton, Chelsea have work to do in order to qualify for the Champions League next season, and Tuchel wants a response from the Blues.
He stated, ” “Another response is required. That’s where we’re at; we had a week to prepare, which was helpful but not ideal because we like to compete in the Champions League.
“However, having the team and having influence in training allowed us to focus on the areas we wanted to develop. We want to live up to our expectations, therefore we set high expectations for ourselves.
“I believe there are numerous reasons why it is acceptable to reduce intensity and effort from time to time, but as an elite sports team and sports club participating at a very high level of this sport, there is little place for normal behavior.
“We want exceptional behavior from everyone, including myself. We want to take a step forward and demonstrate that we can play better, have a greater influence on games, and start from there tomorrow.”
Due to injuries, N’Golo Kante and Jorginho will miss the match against Wolves.