Thomas Tuchel reacts to woeful Romelu Lukaku stat as Chelsea scrape past Crystal Palace

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has sent a pointed message to Romelu Lukaku after the club’s record signing had just seven touches of the ball in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

The west Londoners, who were playing their first Premier League match in nearly a month following their Club World Cup exploits, gave an often lethargic performance and had to wait until the 89th minute to get a winner through Hakim Ziyech.

Incredibly, Lukaku only had two touches of the ball in the first half – one of which was from kick-off – and only managed another five in the second half despite Chelsea pressing for a winner.

Tuchel had gone with a different formation against Palace, ditching his usual back three to play a 4-1-4-1, but he rejected suggestions his tactics hampered Lukaku and seemed to suggest there was only one person to blame for the forward’s below-par display.

Asked by beIN SPORTS about Lukaku only having seven touches, and whether the formation was to blame, Tuchel shrugged his shoulders and replied bluntly: ‘No. No, it’s not about system.’

Asked to elaborate on Lukaku’s display, Tuchel continued: ‘Well it is what it is. But it is for him no change of system because it’s the same attacking structure.

‘We always attack in a 4-1, it’s just for the build-up sometimes we build-up in a 3-2 and sometimes in a 4-1. For him it changed nothing.’

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Asked why Lukaku struggled in his post-match press conference, Tuchel added: ‘I’m not so sure if I have a good answer for your question, I don’t