“I’m not happy with the situation,\u201d Lukaku said in December. “I think the boss has decided to play a different formation but I have to stick at it and get on with it professionally.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to question a man (tactically speaking) who reached back-to-back Champions League finals, winning the 2020\/21 edition with Chelsea, but Lukaku was certainly onto something when he questioned his place in Tuchel\u2019s set-up; the two were \u2013 and clearly aren\u2019t \u2013 compatible. But why exactly?<\/span><\/p>\n On paper, both Inter and Chelsea play a back-three system that looks to control the midfield zone and exploit the flanks with the use of high-pressing wing-backs. But this is too broad a brush to explain the two teams. Tactics are far more nuanced than formations alone.<\/span><\/p>\n So, let\u2019s see why Lukaku flourished so much at Inter \u2013 and why he found life hard at the Bridge in 2021\/22.<\/span><\/p>\n\n You only need look to north London to see the importance of strike partnerships. Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have combined more times in the Premier League than any other duo in history \u2013 more than Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> Sergio Aguero and David Silva.<\/span><\/p>\n A key facet of Lukaku\u2019s success at Inter in the club\u2019s <\/span>Scudetto<\/span><\/i>-winning campaign in 2020\/21 was his frontline partnership with Lautaro Martinez. Collectively, the duo combined for eight Serie A goals that campaign, with the Lukaku-to-Martinez assist-to-goalscorer combination bettered only by Ruslan Malinovskyi-to-Duvan Zapata. In the context of this Premier League season, Chelsea\u2019s most prolific link-up was Reece James to Kai Havertz (three).<\/span><\/p>\n Of Lukaku\u2019s eight Premier League goals in 2021\/22, no single player assisted him more than once, with Reece James, Mateo Kovacic, Cesar Azpilicueta, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech all setting him on just one occasion (with his first in the 2-2 vs Wolves coming from the spot after <\/span>he<\/span><\/i> won the penalty).<\/span><\/p>\n The lack of a genuine, cohesive link-up partner for Lukaku at the Bridge hindered his ability to settle in Tuchel\u2019s system. The German\u2019s rotational policy up front meant there was never a clear identity about how they would attack, which culminated in only Mason Mount reaching double digits for goals or assists in the Premier League. In fact, only Antonio Rudiger made over 30+ starts in the league for outfield Chelsea players, even four held firm against <\/span>Pep Roulette<\/span><\/i> to manage 30+ for Man City.<\/span><\/p>\n Where Antonio Conte set up in a 3-5-2 to facilitate a system in which Lukaku and Martinez could thrive, Tuchel fielded a 3-4-2-1 that largely negates the need for a traditional centre-forward. The No.9 in Tuchel\u2019s system is expected to drop deep and drag defenders out of position, allowing the wingers to tuck in and exploit the space this creates. Meanwhile, the wing-backs overlap and attack the final-third flanks.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, this isn\u2019t a \u2018problem\u2019 exclusive to Lukaku at Chelsea. Christian Pulisic averaged 52.28 touches per 90 minutes in 2021\/22, but when deployed as a False No.9, that figure dipped. The American made 39 touches in the 1-1 draw with Everton up front and <\/span>30 touches in Wolves 0-0 Chelsea just before Christmas.<\/span><\/p>\n Pulisic even recognised this trend back in November.<\/span> “I am not on the ball as much as I usually am or able to use some of my strengths, but I think it is a position that I can play,\u201d he stated about being utilised as a False No.9.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI can create a lot of space for my team-mates and I am happy to play there as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Being the nimble player that <\/span>Pulisic is, this does appear a role better tailored to his qualities. But for Lukaku, a more direct, less mobile centre-forward \u2013 whose bread and butter is scoring goals \u2013 it\u2019s a system in which he struggles to execute his role (just look at his infamous seven-touch match vs Crystal Palace). Chelsea essentially signed a goal fiend to take on a sort of Roberto Firmino-esque role as a selfless False No.9. It was destined to fail unless they adapted their set-up, which they didn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n Romelu Lukaku\u2019s game by numbers vs. Crystal Palace: <\/p>\n 7 touches He played the full 90 minutes. ? pic.twitter.com\/xZJRy2fDAQ<\/a><\/p>\n — Squawka (@Squawka) February 19, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe importance of on-field relationships<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2022\/06\/23175625\/1266925_1266925_player_ranking-top-ten.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
4 accurate passes
2 offsides
0\/4 duels won
0 touches in opp. box
0 take-ons
0 chances created
0 shots <\/p>\n