This was a game in which Chelsea was expected to cruise through to a win, but it turned into a frustrating and nervy victory by the end of extra time. The Blues went out with the strongest line-up one could have hoped for in the contest. Given the talent on the pitch, and the caliber of the opposition, this game should have been a walk in the park. Instead, Chelsea failed to capitalize on an avalanche of chances and nearly blew the game at the end of extra time after Malang Sarr gave away a silly penalty. There were a few positives to take from this match, but make no mistake, this was not a right step forward.
Here are three things we learnt in the Blues’ nervy win over the visiting Pilgrims:
1. Romelu Lukaku May Need a Timeout
Speaking of not taking a step in the right direction, it is hard to shelter Romelu Lukaku after this performance. It would be easier to point out the few things he managed to get right, rather than create the list of what he did wrong. At this point, it is a matter of confidence as much as it is of skill, and it is not helping the team at all.Lukaku failed to get on the end of some excellent crosses, hold back defenders or even win many (if any) headers for the team against a disciplined League One side in Plymouth.
Perhaps it’s time for Thomas Tuchel to send a message to Lukaku and put the striker in timeout. Although it’s not ideal, especially considering the massive investment made on the striker, Chelsea might be better off playing with Kai Havertz and Timo Werner. The Belgian striker is simply not providing any solutions for the team at the moment, nor is he doing the minimum required to play regular football at this level right now. So far, the Blues have given him time, as well as changed their formation and tactics numerous times in order to get the veteran back on track. Maybe some tough love is necessary to get the sparks going. Chelsea needs Lukaku more than ever, but if the striker is not going to improve, Tuchel needs to make a tough decision soon.
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