Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel sends message to Romelu Lukaku

Updated: July 25, 2022 at 8:07 pm GMT+1

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has sent a message to Romelu Lukaku ahead of the end-of-season run-in.

Lukaku has, obviously, struggled for form since his return to Chelsea this past summer.

In fact, the Belgian has failed to register a single goal or assist across his last six league outings for Chelsea, with his last two goals for the club coming in the FA Cup vs Championship opposition.

This has led to Kai Havertz becoming the Blues’ main central option, and to reports that Lukaku is unhappy.

Now though, when quizzed on this in his pre-Brentford press conference, Thomas Tuchel stated that Chelsea need everybody, including Lukaku:

"We don’t reflect on it. The situation at the moment is that we cannot talk to players, cannot sell, and cannot buy," Tuchel said in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. "At this moment, we don’t need to think about it. These are the players we have and Romelu still plays a big part in our plans.

"Not the part maybe he wants to play and I totally understand that, but he used his time to disconnect a little bit, had one week of a holiday, and then he was back with us. I feel him very motivated, very strong in training, very much involved when we do the games.

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Romelu Lukaku of Chelsea reacts after their 2nd goal during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on January 5, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

"He is a winner and he will stay a winner and stay important with us. He had a good match against Middlesbrough which was a huge boost for all of us and for him personally.

"And at the moment, there is no space for a bad mood and no space for disappointment. There is simply not. I checked the schedule last week and I knew this was the schedule but once it is in front of you, you see what's coming.

"There are a lot of matches in the decisive weeks of the season. That’s why there is no space now for second thoughts, being distracted or disappointed. We need everybody, every player and that includes Romelu."

Chelsea vs Brentford

Will Lukaku get a chance to prove himself on Saturday vs Brentford?

Chelsea head into the weekend’s action sitting third in the Premier League table, and on a fine run of form.

The west Londoners have now won five on the bounce and, as a result, look to have secured their top-four status for another campaign.

Chelsea are currently five points above fourth-placed Arsenal with the same number of games played and a full eight points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have also played one game more.

As for Brentford, they are still somewhat in a relegation battle. The Bees sit 15^th in the Premier League, and whilst they are eight points clear of 18^th, Watford could close this gap to just five by winning their game in hand.

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