Romelu Lukaku Needs Champions League Football
In an interview with Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws, Chelsea FC striker Romelu Lukaku explained that he needs to play in the Champions League next season as it is the next natural step in his development. Having spent the past two seasons at Chelsea on loan at West Browmwich Albion and Everton FC, Lukaku has yet to feature in the Champions League for the Blues. Lukaku’s loan at West Brom was an overwhelming success but the success of his loan to Everton is still to be determined after a considerable drought has been followed by a month long injury layoff.
Lukaku’s comments here:
"“I’m turning 21, I’ve been a professional for five years already. It is time. It is high time that I play in the Champions League. It is the next step I need in my development. Full stop. Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were experienced already at that level when they were just 23-24 years old. I want to play Champions League football now. I must now show I’m ready for it. I still have two years on my contract and I know Chelsea follow my development. In the end it depends on what the manager thinks about me.”"
Romelu Lukaku is still very much a part of Chelsea’s long term plans and even if they add another striker in the summer he will be included in the rotation and will be given a chance to win the top spot. The primary issue with Lukaku so far has been his lack of discretion when speaking to the media. Some Chelsea supporters even feel that he has a strange sense of entitlement given the fact that he has not accomplished anything for Chelsea and chose to go out on loan this year.
Lukaku was also involved in a small controversy when defending Nicolas Anelka’s use of the quenelle gesture. The comments above however simply show the youngster’s ambition to feature in the top club competition in the world. He also clarifies that he must prove to Jose Mourinho that he is up to the task. Lukaku’s potential is sky-high and as he grows as a player he will hopefully mature as a person and learn to be a little more careful with his words when speaking to the media.
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