Chelsea: Tuchel’s handling of Lukaku situation shows he is the right man

It was starting to feel like the sky was falling around Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s form in December was less than stellar, as the team collected only 12 of a possible 21 points in the Premier League, which saw it fall eight points behind Manchester City at the top of the table. The Blues also missed out on the top spot in their Champions League group because of a last-minute draw against Zenit on the final matchday. Added media speculation surrounding the contract situations of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, both of whom will be free agents this summer, only exacerbated the tension inside an already limited squad due to COVID-19 and injuries.

To make matters worse, quotes surfaced on December 30 from an interview conducted between Sky Sport Italia and Romelu Lukaku, which indicated that the Belgian talisman was unhappy with his role in Chelsea’s system. He went on to state that he wanted to return to Inter Milan in the near future, only four months after departing. These quotes, which are reportedly at least three weeks old, were revealed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano in a string of Tweets that left much of the Blues’ fanbase feeling betrayed by the club’s record signing.

"“Physically I am fine, but I’m not happy with the situation at Chelsea. Tuchel has chosen to play with another system — I won’t give up, I’ll be professional…I have always said that I have Inter in my heart; I know that I will return to Inter, I really hope so. I am in love with Italy, this is the right moment to talk and let people know what really happened.” – Sky Italia"

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel handled the Romelu Lukaku situation perfectly

Obviously, plucking out-of-context quotes from an outdated interview is not particularly fair to Chelsea’s No. 9, and Romano received some criticism for his presentation of the information. Regardless, the timing and content of the quotes could not have been worse for the European champions, and particularly for Thomas Tuchel. The German tactician had to face the media ahead of the Blues’ crucial clash with Liverpool this past weekend and was inevitably bombarded with questions about Lukaku’s comments. The manager’s responses, and his handling of this difficult situation as a whole, though, should put supporters’ minds at ease.

"“We don’t like it, of course, because it brings noise that we don’t need and is not helpful. But on the other side, we don’t want to make more out of it than it actually is, you know. It’s very easy to take lines out of context, it’s very easy to shorten lines, make headlines and then later realize that it’s not so bad and maybe not what he meant. But, let’s be honest, I don’t like it.” – Tuchel"

Perhaps I should not have been surprised that the former Dortmund boss was more rational than any faceless avatar on social media, but at least personally, I feel a lot better about the circus surrounding Lukaku. He definitely should not have said what he said, even if he was feeling frustrated with his usage, and Tuchel is right to call him out for it. However, Chelsea is ultimately going to decide how big this story becomes, not anyone else. If the team goes on an extended winning streak following the comeback draw against Liverpool, no one is going to remember these quotes in a month. The squad’s reaction is crucial in shaping this season’s narrative going forward.

I am sure that I am not alone in this sentiment, but I really hope Tuchel stays in west London for the long haul. His composure and patience in the face of numerous bizarre obstacles since being appointed has been incredibly professional, and the club’s success on the pitch during his brief reign already speaks for itself. If Roman Abramovich and the board continue to deliver on big name signings and show the manager that he has Chelsea’s full support, there is a chance for the German to become a legend at Stamford Bridge.

What did you make of Tuchel’s handling of the Lukaku situation? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!