Kai Havertz stakes Chelsea starting claim as Lille win offers up yet more Romelu Lukaku questions

Chelsea’s defence of the Champions League is alive and kicking after Thomas Tuchel’s side took a commanding first leg lead against Lille in the round of 16.

A 2-0 advantage means progression to the quarter-finals is within touching distance, barring a collapse in France next month.

But on a night when the holders showed more attacking verve than they have for some months now, fresh questions were raised over the future of Romelu Lukaku.

Tuchel dropped the club’s £97.5million record signing and his side immediately felt the benefits.

“I felt he was a bit tired and exhausted,” the German explained – and there was certainly a renewed vigour to Chelsea without him.

In his absence, Kai Havertz led the line and set his team on course to victory.

There is a strong case for the Germany international being Chelsea’s best option in that role – and that argument only strengthened on the back of this performance.

Havertz showed the invention, guile and energy Lukaku has failed to produce since his move from Inter Milan last summer.

His forward dashes into the box provided a target for his teammates, while his link-up play when dropping deep offered variety to Chelsea’s attacks.

He may not have the numbers to compare to Lukaku – but he looks a better fit for Tuchel’s system at this point.

And in knockout football, Chelsea’s manager knows he needs to get it right each and every time. There is little room to indulge Lukaku as he continues to struggle to adapt to his teammates and vice versa.

One misstep at this stage of the competition could be fatal.

That is why the call to drop Lukaku was such a bold one for Tuchel – but also the right one.

In the Belgium international’s absence, Havertz managed to beat his touch count of seven