Tuchel took Lukaku out of firing line for Lille game

Thomas Tuchel revealed he took Chelsea's club-record signing Romelu Lukaku out of the firing line for the 2-0 Champions League win over Lille. Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic hit the net as Chelsea produced a fine last-16 first-leg victory at Stamford Bridge, with £98million striker Lukaku an unused replacement. Lukaku had registered a Premier League record-low seven touches in Saturday's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, amid continued struggles to find his west London niche.

Havertz and Pulisic starred as Champions League holders Chelsea put one foot in the quarter-finals, before boss Tuchel explained his decision to protect his talismanic Belgian striker. "It was not the moment after the match where everyone was focused on his few touches, so it was not the moment to put him into the next fire," said Tuchel. "It was the moment to take a step back, that was the decision and that's it.

We have now had a strong win and a strong performance. "We have now had a good win - and all the questions are still about Romelu, so the focus is huge. There are nine other players who did not play and we should never forget that we consider this sport a team sport." Chelsea will head to Lille on March 16 confident of progressing yet further in Europe, but before all that will pitch up at Wembley on Sunday for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic hobbled out of the comprehensive win over Lille, but Chelsea hope neither in-form star has suffered a lasting injury. Germany forward Havertz continued his fine run of form, having netted the winner from the penalty spot in the 2-1 Club World Cup final victory over Palmeiras. Tuchel heaped the praise on the £80million forward, who nodded home an early goal in a fine