Thomas Tuchel has warned against turning Romelu Lukaku into a laughing stock.
Lukaku is in the spotlight after Match of the Day highlighted the fact he only touched the ball SEVEN times during the entire 90 minutes of Chelsea ’s win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Chelsea striker Lukaku has struggled badly for goals, form and confidence since his record breaking £97.5m move back to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
Blues boss Tuchel said: “There is data out there and the data speaks a certain language. He was not involved in our game. It’s sometimes like this.
“With strikers, if they struggle with self confidence and to find the space and get involved against a good defensive side, it can be like this. It is not what we want, not what Romelu wants.
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“It is not the time to laugh about him, to make jokes about him. He is in the spotlight and we will protect him because he is our player.”
Tuchel also warned his players to be “super focused” as Chelsea begin a season defining week by facing Lille at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on Sunday.
They must then go to Luton Town in the FA Cup fifth round next week and the next three games can decide whether the whole season will be judged as a success.
Tuchel added: “Now is the moment to be super focused on every little match and don't worry about the big picture because it will make us look at different environments. It is a huge difference with all these knockout matches.
“A final in the Carabao Cup then another match in the FA Cup which will come up. It’s a big difference because Premier League is a marathon, about consistency.
We try to bring the very best group tomorrow that suits the best to what we want to implement on the pitch.”
