Thomas Tuchel pledges Chelsea’s full protection for struggling Romelu Lukaku

Thomas Tuchel has insisted Romelu Lukaku’s struggles are no laughing matter, pledging Chelsea’s full protection for the Belgium striker.

Lukaku had just seven touches of the ball in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League win at Crystal Palace in another testing outing for the Blues.

The £98million club-record signing’s battle to find his Stamford Bridge niche looks likely to rumble on, leaving boss Tuchel quick to leap to his defence.

“Well, now we have to deal with it, the data is out there and speaks a certain language,” said Tuchel.

“He was not much involved in our game and it’s sometimes like this with strikers.

“If they struggle a bit with self-confidence, if they struggle a little bit to find the space and to get involved against a defensive side, it can be like this.

“It’s of course not what we want and not what Romelu wants.

“But it’s also not the time to laugh about him, make jokes about him. He’s in the spotlight of course, and we will protect him.”

Tuchel vowed to turn Chelsea into a team nobody wanted to play against when taking the west London helm and his Blues have always proved resolute defensively.

And the former Paris St Germain coach admitted that teak-tough set-up could impact on Lukaku’s capabilities.

Asked if Lukaku’s travails could be a consequence of the well-honed defensive set-up, Tuchel replied: “Yes, maybe, maybe. There’s even a history of strikers struggling a little bit at Chelsea, so it’s not the easiest place in the world for strikers, obviously.

“I don’t know exactly why it’s like this, but obviously it’s like this.

“In my opinion Chelsea is also a team considered as a strong defensive team, a physical team that has a certain attitude and grit in playing competitive football.

“We demand a lot from