“I didn’t expect too much. I wanted to be open to watch him and see his strengths and capability to adapt and to link up between Kai, Mason, and him. This was good,” said Thomas Tuchel. The German manager was implying that he had sent his shiny new forward into his second Chelsea debut without too many tactical instructions. Romelu Lukaku had just returned to the Blues seven years after he departed, this time for a club-record fee. The Belgian waited a week to make his return debut, which came on the road in a hostile environment at the Emirates Stadium. 15 minutes into the match against Arsenal, he had the ball in the back of the net—to the surprise of absolutely no one.
Ultimately, that is the reason why Chelsea bought Lukaku in the first place, to fix the side’s goalscoring struggles. To that end, his debut—followed by another impressive 45 minutes against Liverpool—would’ve satisfied the fans and the staff alike. However, Lukaku’s arrival changes more than just numbers on a scoresheet and as his influence grows, supporters are bound to see the team play differently than it did last season. Once Lukaku gets fully acclimated and used to playing with those around him, fans will be treated to true “Tuchel ball.”
There were some signs of things to come during the striker’s first two outings as a new Chelsea player. This piece will serve to recount some of his key touches from the aforementioned games to understand what he offered the team and what it might lead to in the season ahead.
Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal
There is no rest for the mega-expensive! Lukaku slotted straight into the Chelsea first team upon becoming available for selection late last month. Tuchel’s suggestion about sending the Belgian onto the pitch without tactical instructions seems a bit far-fetched as there were things he did repeatedly—and did well.
5′: Right from the start, Lukaku’s plan is clear. He wishes to isolate Pablo Mari, back into him, use his strength to shield the ball and then either swivel away or play a simple pass to an onrushing teammate. In this instance, the forward does the aforementioned action, receiving the ball into his feet from N’Golo Kante before laying it off for Kai Havertz. A sign of things to come all night.
15′: It doesn’t take long for Lukaku to make his mark. He’s backed into Mari when he receives the ball from Mateo Kovacic, controls it and lays it back to the midfielder. At this point, Lukaku has dropped deeper, meaning the Arsenal defensive line has moved up the pitch. As Kovacic plays a simple pass to Reece James out wide, Lukaku swivels from his marker and runs in between the two central defenders. He beats them easily and is left unmarked as the ball arrives into the box from James. With one touch, he sidefoots it into an unguarded net.
More from Chelsea FC News
- Bournemouth vs Chelsea: 1 Blue Mauricio Pochettino should drop
- Bournemouth vs Chelsea: 3 Blues who must start
- Predicted Chelsea lineup vs Bournemouth: Palmer starts in 4-2-3-1
- Chelsea sporting directors finally reveal why they sign so many young players
- These 3 new signings may never get a game at Chelsea
The verticality of Chelsea’s passing stands out in the first half-hour of the contest. It would be a common theme throughout the remainder of the game and the next. The team is easily able to bypass multiple opposition lines with a simple pass into Lukaku’s feet when he’s up top. Clever movement from the forwards creates space and angles for each pass. The striker, in turn, lays it off for his teammates with one or two touches.
Some characteristics of Lukaku’s game are also prevalent right from the start. The Belgian gets tight to his man on most occasions before separating himself from his marker. He frustrates Mari so much during the opening half-hour using the same action that the Spaniard eventually lunges in from behind for a cynical foul and earns a booking. Lukaku also shows a proclivity to immediately rush into the box after laying the ball off for a teammate. His goal arrives as a result of him combining the two aforementioned aspects. Moving on.
34′: In this passage of the play, Lukaku is stationed deep and away from his marker. The ball rolls into the Belgian’s feet, whose ever so slight touch lays it into the path of Mason Mount. The entire Arsenal defense has moved towards the left to deal with Chelsea’s build-up, and as a result, James is in space on the right. Mount picks James with a simple pass, and the wingback finishes with aplomb. Lukaku’s involvement in the middle of the play is, once again, crucial for the goal.
Lukaku did more than just trouble Mari by backing into him all night; he showed that he is not just a one-trick pony. Especially in the second half, one would often spot the forward drifting toward the right—an area of the pitch he became used to playing in for both Manchester United and Inter Milan. Moreover, as the game progresses, the 28-year-old receives the ball deeper and away from the defenders, this facet of his game would be even more prevalent in the draw against Liverpool a week later. Here are some examples of his fine work late on versus Arsenal in that regard.
57′ and 67′: In this instance, the Belgian receives the ball while moving toward the goal, positions his body well to lay it off for Mount the first time, setting the latter up perfectly for a shot. 10 minutes later, Lukaku has moved to the right flank, where he receives the ball, cuts inside and is brought down by Bukayo Saka, who receives a yellow card.
77′: Here, he receives the ball into his feet on the right side, plays it to James and instantly runs into the box. The ball reaches Mount, who lifts it towards Lukaku, whose subsequent header is saved—quite superbly—by Bernd Leno.
86′: Lukaku collects the pass high up the pitch, holds the play up well while facing the goal, allowing Havertz to make a run outside to his right. He plays the ball into Havertz’s feet, whose shot is saved by Leno.
Chelsea brushes Arsenal aside, and its new signing proves to be an immediate hit. He finishes the game with one goal, three key passes, a 95 percent pass completion rate and 43 total touches.
Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
A new week, a new challenge for Lukaku. The Chelsea man is up against Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk—two of the best centerbacks in the league—and an alteration in his approach is quite visible. Once again, this proves that there are more facets to the Belgian’s game than just using his physique as a barrier and a battering ram.
In the first half against the Reds, the forward constantly separates himself from the Liverpool pair, picks the ball up on the turn and charges forward with Mount and Havertz in support. The Chelsea forwards respond by adjusting their movement; instead of staying deep to receive lay-offs from Lukaku, they drift wide and try to run in behind the defense. A similar situation unfolds several times in the half.
13′: Lukaku has distanced himself from Liverpool’s centerback pairing—he can’t face Mari each week, after all! He comes deep to receive the ball, turns around and runs toward the opposition goal before overhitting a pass to Mount. A decent attacking transition for Chelsea.
34′: Lukaku drops deep again, but this time, Matip follows him. Nevertheless, the striker receives a pass into his feet, pivots away from the defender, taking him out of the equation completely. Lukaku’s actions create a three-v-three opportunity for Chelsea in attack with Liverpool on the retreat. He ignores Havertz’s run and plays the pass to Mount instead, whose subsequent shot is narrowly wide.
Unfortunately for Chelsea and Lukaku, the equation changes just before the interval. Referee Anthony Taylor shows a red card to James for handball on the goal line, and Liverpool equalizes from the resulting spot-kick.
Lukaku is the sole Chelsea attacker throughout the second half. Havertz is substituted during the break and Mount retreats into the midfield as Tuchel looks to counter the disadvantage. As a result, attacking opportunities for the Belgian are rare. Nevertheless, throughout the half, the Blues use Lukaku as a means to escape opposition pressure. The approach highlights Lukaku’s usefulness as a target man in such difficult situations. The 28-year-old is a constant target for passes out of defense and from the goalkeeper, and his touches often help the team retain possession.
Once again, the verticality of Chelsea’s play is evident. The ball is played through the lines and into the feet of the player, who either holds it up or lays it into the path of a teammate in support. Chelsea uses the vertical approach to bypass Liverpool’s press, but on occasions, the same approach is used to create a quick opportunity.
75′: Edouard Mendy finds Lukaku with a long goal kick, and the forward lays it into the path of his teammate with a simple touch. A repetitive move late into the game.
84′: A familiar situation; Lukaku receives the ball backed into a defender, holds it well and plays it into the path of Kovacic, who has run forward from deep. An opportunity out of nothing for Chelsea.
A resilient Chelsea walks away from Anfield with a point in the bag, despite playing the entirety of the second half with a man less. Lukaku doesn’t add to his goal tally; while his numbers go down across the board, he celebrates with his teammates at full-time as if they had just won the match.
To sum it up, apart from adding an obvious goal threat, Lukaku also seems to have made Chelsea more vertical. The team looked to convert defense into attack through swift and direct actions, with the Belgian acting as the lynchpin. Moreover, he also provides the Blues with a great option to escape opposition pressure—as was evident against Liverpool. These are early days, but Lukaku looks like a great addition to the Chelsea team, unsurprisingly.
What have you made of Lukaku thus far? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!