Thomas Tuchel slammed for "overzealous nonsense" in dealing with Romelu Lukaku

Thomas Tuchel has been criticised for making a mountain out of a mole hill with his "overzealous nonsense" after Romelu Lukaku's heroics helped Chelsea become world champions.

Lukaku put an end to a turbulent couple of months on Saturday by scoring in a superb all-round performance as the Blues' won the Club World Cup final over Palmeiras.

It was only at the beginning of January that the striker's future at Stamford Bridge looked uncertain following his part in an explosive interview, where he admitted he was unhappy at the club just six months after returning in a £97.5m transfer.

He was subsequently dropped by Tuchel before going on to issue an apology, though his manager's decision to axe him ahead of a crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool came under fire.

Now Tuchel's actions have been further brought into the spotlight in claims from BBC Sport's Garth Crooks, who suggests the Chelsea boss could have made the situation a whole lot worse.

"I said Thomas Tuchel would need Romelu Lukaku and so it is proving," Crooks told BBC Sport.

"The overzealous nonsense by the Chelsea manager in sanctioning the Belgium striker after he fell for the flattery of an interviewer in Italy almost cost Tuchel and the club.

"Instead Lukaku apologised when other strikers of similar calibre might have put two fingers up to the manager and made for the exit.

"All credit to Lukaku, who has knuckled down and worked his way back to form with regular appearances, which is all the £97.5m player wanted in the first place.

"Lukaku led the line brilliantly against Palmeiras and was instrumental in Chelsea winning the Club World Cup for the first time in their history. Not a bad return."

It was Lukaku's goal against Saudi side