Wait, be patient, and work hard,' says Thomas Tuchel, urging Romelu Lukaku to follow in the footsteps of Timo Werner and reclaim his starting spot at Chelsea by 'putting the team first,' as the £97 million Belgian striker continues to struggle.
If Romelu Lukaku is to reclaim his starting berth at Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel believes he must emulate Timo Werner.
Since his £97 million return to Stamford Bridge last summer, the Belgium international has had a rough time.
Tuchel, on the other hand, believes Lukaku should take a page from Werner's book and reclaim his spot in the team via patience and hard effort.
Werner had been in a similar predicament until recently. However, the German international has redeemed himself, starting five of the last seven games and scoring three goals in the process.
'What Timo has accomplished is exactly what [Lukaku] requires. Wait, be patient, work hard, and put the team first, because as a striker, you can benefit the team in seconds,' Tuchel added. [Werner] has now made it tough to exclude him. I was blown away by his performance in the last two games.
These were two games in which he performed far better than in any other game and demonstrated his abilities. Everyone assumes that we, as managers, are in charge of the lineup, which we are.
'But, in the end, the players make sure you don't leave anyone out, whether it's in training or in games, and games, of course, are a chance for everyone.'
Tuchel understands that a striker's fortunes can change in a matter of seconds, and he believes it's all about embracing opportunities when they present themselves.
'Things can change in minutes, in moments, especially with strikers,' he remarked. Whole careers can turn on their heads and go in any direction, but as a striker, you always have a chance to turn things around.' That's what he did in the last two games, and that's what we're looking for from him. It's what he needs to demonstrate, and then he makes sure he plays well.'
Lukaku has scored 12 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions since his club-record transfer from Inter Milan.
When Chelsea takes on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday, they will be looking to reach their second cup final of the season and set up another Wembley showdown with Liverpool.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0