Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has highlighted the reason why he prefers Kai Havertz to Romelu Lukaku.
Havertz seems to be the favourite for Tuchel ahead of the club’s £98m summer signing, Lukaku in recent games.
Lukaku has struggled to replicate the form which saw the Blues shovel up the huge amount to bring him to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan.
The striker has only managed five league goals in 17 appearances so far this season.
His lack of contribution in recent games has led Tuchel to drop him in favour of Havertz.
The 22-year-old has started four of Chelsea’s past five matches and in that period, Lukaku has started only twice.
Havertz starred in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Burnley on Saturday, grabbing a brace and taking his tally of goals to nine in all competitions this season.
Speaking to reporters, Tuchel explained that Havertz gets the nod over Lukaku because of his overall involvement in not only scoring goals but creating chances as well.
“Of course [it’s hard to leave out Havertz],” Tuchel said. “He gives a lot of intensity and he’s involved in goals.
“He scored again, so it’s a very good moment and it’s on him to keep going. This is how it is.
“We played the last cup match without him, Timo Werner was very strong and was very close to starting. Romelu got his goal and we will need everybody. But at this moment, [Havertz is] in really good shape.
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“What he gives us is huge volume. He covers a lot of metres, he covers a lot of metres in high intensity, so he finds the intensity no matter what the system the opponent defends against us, he finds intensive runs, he finds distances.
“This is what makes him and he uses his body more and more.
“He loves to create overloads and half spaces and this is what he gives. It’s just his style of play, his characteristic as a player. He’s in good shape, he’s confident.”
Tuchel has repeatedly urged Lukaku to be more involved in the overall team play instead of waiting to be fed.
The Belgian cut a lonely figure as he set a damning statistic of having only seven touches in Chelsea’s 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace – a Premier League low.
Indeed the Blues boss may not be the only one who prefers the German over the Belgian as the fans as well seem to have taken sides.
Lukaku drew the ire of fans when he gave an interview admitting to missing his former club Inter Milan and how he never would have left if the Serie A weren’t in need of the finances.
He also stated he didn’t like Tuchel’s style of play but was growing to adapt to it.
However, following the outrage caused by the interview, Lukaku soon apologised for his comments and pledged to win back the manager and fans’ belief.
Both Lukaku and Havertz scored in Chelsea’s Club World Cup final win against Palmeiras with the German getting the decisive goal.
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