Chelsea are facing the toughest period of the season, with the last seven rounds of the Premier League with 3 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss, and being quickly left behind by Manchester City, who have won 11 consecutive games, and are 11 points behind the Blue Moon in one round of the game.
Chelsea have also suffered serious injuries, with main left-back Chilwell having surgery for a cruciate ligament injury in his knee, and the season reimbursement has been determined in advance. Main right-back Rees James had his hamstring torn and was out for at least 2 months. Havertz, Thiago Silva and Cheek were also injured. Many players have also recently recovered from the new crown.
Outside the pitch, Chelsea champion Romelu Lukaku gave a private interview to the media, saying he was not satisfied with his current situation at Chelsea and hoped to return to Inter to play at his peak. Chelsea were shocked by Lukaku's interview and outraged by the secret interview at the player's home.
Two days ago, Sky Sports Italy published a personal interview with Lukaku, which caused an uproar. As Chelsea's all-time champion who spent €115 million on a buyback this summer, Lukaku is full of affection for former owner Inter, but does not show the respect that should be expected of the current owner, the Blues.
For example: "When I came back to the UK, I kept thinking about Inter, Inter, Inter... For me, winning the Serie A title with Inter was the best moment of my career. Inter fans are the best fans in the world. ”
Speaking about inter-era partner Lautaro Martinez, Lukaku said: "Lautaro is someone I don't need to talk to too much and I can die on the pitch for him. Take him to Chelsea? No, just stay at Inter and I'll be back. ”
Lukaku apologized for leaving Inter this summer: "I would like to apologize to the Inter fans because I left in a way that should not be the case. I should talk to you first, because everything you have done for me, my family, my mother, my son, will always be with me. I really want to go back to Inter from the bottom of my heart, not at the end of my career, but at the peak when I can still win trophies. ”
So far, Lukaku has made 18 appearances in all competitions since his return to Chelsea, scoring seven goals. Compared with last season's 44 games at Inter, 30 goals and 11 assists, there is a significant decline.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Lukaku was interviewed about three weeks ago, when he did not report to Chelsea or tell his agent, Pastorello. After the interview was released, Chelsea executives and manager Tuchel were greatly puzzled. Tuchel believes that Lukaku should shut up and not bring noise.
"Chelsea were disappointed by the timing of the interview, which surprised the club. And Lukaku's agent also said that it was the little monster himself who organized the reporter's interview. ”
At 0:30 a.m. Beijing time on Monday, Chelsea will usher in a strong dialogue with Liverpool. According to The Athletic's David Ornstein's latest news, Lukaku was banned from Chelsea internally and expelled from the squad against Liverpool as punishment.
After the controversial interview was made public, Tuchel and Lukaku had already communicated. From a team management point of view, a one-game suspension for Lukaku is necessary. Lukaku will also face a fine from the club for publishing unapproved interviews.
In Chelsea's official 2022 New Year poster, Lukaku was removed from the original C position and moved to an inconspicuous position above the "0".
Throughout his career against different teams, Lukaku has always had some bizarre and confusing words and deeds. From Everton to Manchester United, from Manchester United to Inter, both transfers were done through strikes.
In the summer of 2017, when Manchester United signed Lukaku from Everton for £75 million, Steve Walsh, who had worked with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, criticized Lukaku to the point, believing that he was just a "giant baby" and did not have the spirit of a top club.
Walsh said in a 2019 interview: "I remember I told Jose [Mourinho]: 'Watch out, you know, Lukaku is a giant baby. Jose told me he could do it. But I don't feel like he really surrendered to Romelu Lukaku. Pogba is the same way, neither of them is a player I like, they care more about themselves than they care about the team. ”