Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku have been paired in attack for Chelsea for quite a while now. Ever since that has happened, the pair have managed to score just one goal, and Chelsea have been relying on other departments for goals and winning the matches. Thomas Tuchel made the change during the comfortable Spurs win. Since then, the goals have been coming from the defenders and midfielders.
Werner has one, but worryingly, Lukaku has none. The big Belgian hasn’t scored in four games in the league, and was substituted in yesterday’s ‘lucky’ 1-0 win over Brentford. Lukaku is spending majority of the matches in isolation and cuts a frustrated figure throughout. Yesterday, even Tuchel felt the same frustration as he brought the striker off. You would imagine a tall figure like Lukaku will be useful in coping with the barrage of high balls coming in his own box, but Tuchel had seen enough and replaced him with Kai Havertz.
Performances like yesterday are inexplicable for a man of Lukaku’s reputation. But perhaps, it’s not completely his fault. Lukaku thrives when partnered with two attacking midfielders, as opposed to one who’s devoid of confidence. Earlier in the season, when Chelsea were operating with two behind Lukaku, they looked sharp and threatening going forward. Lukaku bagged four goals in four games then.
On paper, Lukaku x Werner duo looks devastating, with Werner’s pace complementing Lukaku’s strength. But the problem in this system is that Lukaku isn’t being involved in the build up. Neither of Werner or the three midfielders behind him are able to get the ball to him. With Kai Havertz and/or Mason Mount, it’s better as they have a better passing range and ability to link up with the front men.
Chelsea survive almighty scare thanks to Edouard Mendy
Chelsea came away from Brentford with a hard-fought 1-0 win. Ben Chilwell may have got the goal but it was Edouard Mendy who’s responsible for the win. He produced 3 or 4 superb saves as the hosts threw the kitchen sink at the European champions. Tuchel praised debutant Malang Sarr and how his defense coped with the absence of senior players like Antonio Rüdiger and Thiago Silva, but admitted his team were lucky to come away with three points. The win takes the Blues back to the top, above Liverpool and City who had won earlier.
Though their rearguard stood firm in what was a stern examination, such a situation wouldn’t have occurred had Chelsea showed a bit more going forward. Lukaku has been bought to score goals but for various reasons is not even getting a sniff. Goals are coming from elsewhere and this is a familiar feeling for the fans. Chelsea just don’t create enough chances and are miles off Liverpool in terms of fluidity going forward, despite the riches they boast in attack. If Chelsea are to mount a title challenge, they need to strike a balance between attack and defense.