Thomas Tuchel urges Romelu Lukaku to be like Timo Werner and win back a starting spot at Chelsea

‘Wait, be patient, work hard’: Thomas Tuchel urges misfiring Romelu Lukaku to be like Timo Werner and win back a starting spot at Chelsea by ‘putting the team first’ – as the £97m Belgian striker continues to struggle

  • Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has urged Romelu Lukaku to be like Timo Wenrer
  • The Belgium striker has failed to live up to expectations since rejoining the club
  • Timo Werner has started five of the Blues’ last seven games, scoring three goals 

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has urged Romelu Lukaku to be like Timo Werner if he’s to regain a spot in the starting XI. 

The Belgium international has endured a difficult time since making a £97million return to Stamford Bridge last summer. 

But Tuchel says Lukaku needs to take a leaf out of Werner’s book and win back a place in the team through patience and hard work. 

Timo Werner has regained a spot in the starting XI and has thrived recently

Thomas Tuchel has urged Romelu Lukaku (L) to be like fellow striker Timo Werner (R)

Due to a combination of poor form and injuries, Lukaku’s has started just twice in the last two months. 

Until recent weeks, Werner was in a similar situation. But the German international has turned his fortunes around, starting in five of the last seven games – scoring three goals in the process.

‘What Timo has done is exactly what [Lukaku] needs to do. Wait, be patient, work hard and put the team first, be ready to help the team, because as a striker you can help within seconds,’ Tuchel said. 

Tuchel says he been very impressed with Werner's form since returning to the starting XI

Tuchel says he been very impressed with Werner’s form since returning to the starting XI

‘Now [Werner] has made it difficult to leave him out. I’m impressed, he was very, very good in the last two games. These were two games when he was much better than in any other game and he showed what he is capable of. Everybody thinks we as managers do the line-up, and of course we do.

‘But in the end the players take care that you don’t leave them out, they do it in training or in games, and of course in games it’s the opportunity for everybody.’ 

Tuchel realises a striker’s luck can change in a matter of moments and he says it’s just about seizing the opportunities when they arise. 

He said: ‘Especially for strikers, things can be turned around in minutes, in moments. Whole careers can be upside down and in any direction but always as a striker you can have a chance to put things into your favour.

Lukaku's last goal for the Blues came in the FA Cup quarter-final match against Middlesbrough

Lukaku’s last goal for the Blues came in the FA Cup quarter-final match against Middlesbrough

‘He did in the last two games and that’s what we want from him. It’s what he needs to show and then he takes care that he plays.’

Since his club-record move from Inter Milan, Lukaku has scored 12 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions. 

Chelsea will seek to reach their second cup final of the season and set up another Wembley meeting with Liverpool when they take on Crystal Palace in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.  

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