Chelsea 2 Havertz 8, Pulisic 63
Lille 0
THOMAS TUCHEL has found a solution and created a problem.
With Kai Havertz at the point of his attack, Chelsea produced more verve than they have for the best part of three months.
But with the German leading the line, the question is what to do with Romelu Lukaku?
A £97.5million substitute is never a good look. And while Tuchel pointed to a combination of fatigue and protection when explaining the club-record signing’s omission from last night’s win against Lille, the true reason for his absence is clear.
Lukaku just does not fit into this Chelsea team — and it is debatable whether he ever will.
It is not for a lack of desire on Tuchel’s part. He wants to form a forward line around Lukaku and Havertz, the club’s two most expensive outfield players, with no shortage of pressure on his shoulders to make that axis work.
But at what cost? That was the calculation made by Chelsea’s manager as he plotted the defense of their European crown. Could he really risk another seven-touch show from his center-forward?
Esta historia es de la edición February 23, 2022 de Evening Standard.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 23, 2022 de Evening Standard.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Only £65k a month to live like Boy George
The Karma Chameleon singer listed his house for £17m in 2022, turning down offers. Now, he's looking for a tenant
Welcome to London, unicorn capital of Europe
We're flying far ahead of anywhere outside US for tech investment
Arteta's Arsenal evolution The next phase
Malik Ouzia and Simon Collings assess how the Spaniard will try to bring down Man City after he signs up for another three years with the title in his sights
Title fight catches fire after Gunners embrace dark side
Arsenal-City clashes take on a welcome edge of animosity
Whack the hippy gong-boho's back
It happened in Paris one grey February day. Sienna Miller was in an oversized, black leather jacket, lace-trimmed silk slip and clumpy great wedges.
There's a Starlink waiting in the sky... 7,000 in fact.Can Elon Musk stop them crashing to Earth?
As he was preparing his fields for seeding this year, Barry Sawchuk came across a giant slab of space debris. It had come from a spacecraft belonging to Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX.
'Politicians are only into power-mongering, corruption and cronyism'
We speak to alt revolutionary DEEPAK CHOPRA about biomarkers, his digital twin and his work to save humanity from disease
I've been waiting for a production of Godotthis brilliant all my life
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati bring a potent, tragicomic chemistry to James Macdonald’s rich revival of Samuel Beckett’s challenging play.
Trust me, the Ritz is London's bestrestaurant
To whom we turn in moments of gloom and glory can be instructive, a filter of our truest friends. I've fallen out with the Ritz a couple of times, including once after a visit to the bar which didn’t warrant a review (“But you said it was lovely!” they said.
'Healing is a dirty word'
After four traumatic years, FKA twigs is back with a new album -and a thrilling metamorphosis