Starting on the bench AGAIN for Real Madrid's visit in the Champions League, bringing him on at 3-1 down smacked of desperation

Romelu Lukaku was on the bench for the Champions League quarter-final vs Real

Nobody thought anything was wrong with   seeing  the £97.5million man on the bench

Tuchel favours Kai Havertz to lead the line in a system that doesn't suit Lukaku

When he came on at 3-1 down, it was a substitution that smacked of desperation

Chelsea's club record signing has been one big and very expensive mistake

The 97.5million man was on the bench for Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid and no-one really gave it a second thought.

 


Romelu Lukaku's role as one of football's most expensive ever substitutes isn't even a thing anymore. It's normal and Expected.

The big question is , is This is the sort of night Chelsea worked so hard last summer to bring Lukaku back for?

from the previous 10 matches, Lukaku has started just twice; away at Championship clubs Luton and Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

 

When Lukaku gave his interview to an Italian media outlet in December, in which he openly questioned the tactics of manager Thomas Tuchel, the striker could never have guessed it would turn out this way.

 

Of course, that interview isn't the only reason behind the 28-year-old's exile.

 

There had been suspicions long before the former Everton striker caused himself a world of pain by confiding his inner-most feelings to Sky Italia that Tuchel wasn't convinced.

 

It wasn't that he didn't rate Lukaku; any one could have easily   seen his value. But there was a sense Lukaku didn't suit Tuchel's style or strategy.

 

Kai Havertz is the man the Blues head coach believes is best suited to the way he wants to play.

 

It's hard to argue to the contrary; they won the Champions League playing that way - with Havertz leading the line - last season.

 

But all that leaves Lukaku in an unthinkable position; on the bench.