Romelu Lukaku Serie A blow reveals Thomas Tuchel's brutal Chelsea dismissal has yet to pay off

You could have been fooled for thinking you were back in Spring 2021 on Sunday at Wembley.

Sure it was cold from my upper tier seat, but the game that unfolded in front of my eyes certainly had echoes of the frustrations felt before the Champions League win last May.

A host of good chances were created, but the execution lacked to a mind-numbing extent.

Both Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic could have prevented the game from going to penalties, both missing guilt-edged chances. Particularly Mount's effort that trickled onto the post and away not long into the second half.

For as much as Tuchel's team were praised for their 'fluidity' against both Lille and Liverpool without the much-maligned Romelu Lukaku, it was the traits that led them to Lukaku in the first place that undermined Sunday's cup final.

The struggle for a happy medium is something Tuchel has failed to find this season.

One that maintains the level of pressing and movement Tuchel demands but also provides a consistent level of end product.

Whilst Lukaku's game has looked distant from Chelsea's natural style, his instinct for goals remain. He's proven by his two in the Club World Cup and a great finish against Liverpool which was controversially judged offside in extra-time on Sunday by VAR.

There is little doubt that Chelsea's attacking play has looked a lot more cohesive and exciting without the Belgian.

Although Kai Havertz did not get on the scoresheet, his four created chances against Liverpool demonstrated his influence.

It stung slightly that as Chelsea fans made the way home from Wembley dejected, Tammy Abraham was netting his 19th goal for the season for Roma, his 12th in Serie A after his £34m move from Stamford Bridge last summer.

Abraham has