Thomas Tuchel uncovers Didier Drogba Chelsea trick as Hudson-Odoi's Club World Cup ploy pays off

Many wonderful pictures were released as Chelsea celebrated becoming FIFA Club World Cup champions for the very first time.

On the turf of the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, smiles were liberally shared, there was little social distancing to be found surrounding the piece of silverware that completed Chelsea's glittering set of honours under Roman Abramovich.

But one picture did hit differently.

It was posted to Romelu Lukaku's Instagram of him standing alongside Didier Drogba.

This came after Lukaku had emphatically scored a goal the Ivorian would have been proud of. One that was very reminiscent of goals Drogba had netted in major finals for Chelsea throughout his iconic career.

The 2007 header that beat Arsenal in the League Cup final, the 2009 header against Everton in the FA Cup final and most iconically, the towering one that brought Chelsea level against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final.

This image and Lukaku's goal against Palmeiras brought back so much of the sentiment that surrounded the Belgian's return last summer.

A sentiment that has sadly been extinguished since his controversial interview with Sky Italia before the new year.

The support and hope for Lukaku to do well have been replaced with much cynicism and heavy criticism. Some supporters already would not mind seeing him depart this summer.

But individually, Lukaku can walk away from the Club World Cup campaign with a sense of accomplishment and vindication.

Two games and two important goals. The winner against Al-Hilal was a moment of much-needed fortune but his pinpoint header to break a stubborn Palmerias resistance was more impressive.

It was a link with Callum Hudson-Odoi that proved key in the final. A connection many had