Romelu Lukaku's struggles against Crystal Palace continued a difficult first season back at Chelsea following his club-record summer move. PA
Romelu Lukaku's struggles against Crystal Palace continued a difficult first season back at Chelsea following his club-record summer move. PA
Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell with Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku after the match at Selhurst Park. Reuters
Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell with Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku after the match at Selhurst Park. Reuters
Romelu Lukaku has not scored in his last six games against English clubs and only touched the ball seven times in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Getty
Romelu Lukaku has not scored in his last six games against English clubs and only touched the ball seven times in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Getty
Rumelu Lukaku celebrates with teammates after scoring in the Club World Cup final against Palmeiras in Abu Dhabi. EPA
Rumelu Lukaku celebrates with teammates after scoring in the Club World Cup final against Palmeiras in Abu Dhabi. EPA
Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal in the Club World Cup final against Palmeiras at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. AP
Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal in the Club World Cup final against Palmeiras at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. AP
Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku, second right, celebrates after scoring in the Club World Cup final. AP
Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku, second right, celebrates after scoring in the Club World Cup final. AP
Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring in the Club World Cup semi-final match in Abu Dhabi. PA
Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring in the Club World Cup semi-final match in Abu Dhabi. PA
Rumelu Lukaku with Chelsea teammate Cesar Azpilicueta. EPA
Rumelu Lukaku with Chelsea teammate Cesar Azpilicueta. EPA

Sport

Football

Romelu Lukaku's struggles at Chelsea no laughing matter for Thomas Tuchel

Record signing quickly becoming another expensive underachiever at Stamford Bridge

Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly

February 21, 2022

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Thomas Tuchel urged everyone not to mock Romelu Lukaku after Chelsea’s record signing set a record for the fewest touches ever in a full Premier League game.

The German admitted Chelsea is a tough club for strikers to succeed as Lukaku threatens to join Andriy Shevchenko and Fernando Torres in the band of expensive underachievers at Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku struck in the semi-final and final of the Club World Cup but the £98 million man has not scored in his last six games against English clubs and only touched the ball seven times in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, and one of those was a kick-off.

The previous record holder was a goalkeeper, Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel, and the Belgian’s anonymous display prompted mockery.

But Tuchel said: “The data is out there and the data speaks a certain language. It is sometimes like this with strikers if they struggle with self-confidence and struggle to get involved against a good defensive side. It is not what we want or what Romelu wants but it is not a time to laugh about him or make jokes about him.”

Lukaku has only scored 10 goals in 28 games since returning to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan last summer, bringing back memories of previous big buys who were expected to be prolific in the Chelsea attack.

Crystal Palace vs Chelsea player ratings

CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita – 7. The Palace shot-stopper faced a busy start to the match after having been forced into a terrific save to keep out an effort from distance. Forced off at half time. AP Photo
CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita – 7. The Palace shot-stopper faced a busy start to the match after having been forced into a terrific save to keep out an effort from distance. Forced off at half time. AP Photo
Nathaniel Clyne – 6. The 30-year-old made just his second league start this season having been kept out by Joel Ward. He did well at right-back, but will feel disappointed to let Alonso get his cross over to Ziyech at the far post. Getty Images
Nathaniel Clyne – 6. The 30-year-old made just his second league start this season having been kept out by Joel Ward. He did well at right-back, but will feel disappointed to let Alonso get his cross over to Ziyech at the far post. Getty Images
Joachim Andersen – 7. A good display by the defender, who kept Chelsea’s frontline quiet for large portions of the game. Getty Images
Joachim Andersen – 7. A good display by the defender, who kept Chelsea’s frontline quiet for large portions of the game. Getty Images
Marc Guehi – 7. The former Chelsea man made the move across London in the summer and alongside Andersen did a good job defending against his former side. AFP
Marc Guehi – 7. The former Chelsea man made the move across London in the summer and alongside Andersen did a good job defending against his former side. AFP
Tyrick Mitchell – 6. A busy game for the Palace left-back, working to limit Ziyech on the wing. He did well for most the game before being caught out by Ziyech for the goal. AFP
Tyrick Mitchell – 6. A busy game for the Palace left-back, working to limit Ziyech on the wing. He did well for most the game before being caught out by Ziyech for the goal. AFP
James McArthur – 7. Brought in to replace the ineligible Conor Gallagher, McArthur proved to be an asset in the middle of the park alongside Kouyate. Getty Images
James McArthur – 7. Brought in to replace the ineligible Conor Gallagher, McArthur proved to be an asset in the middle of the park alongside Kouyate. Getty Images
Cheikhou Kouyate – 6. The Senegal international played his first Premier League minutes in 2022, having been away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Kept himself busy. Getty Images
Cheikhou Kouyate – 6. The Senegal international played his first Premier League minutes in 2022, having been away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Kept himself busy. Getty Images
Jeffrey Schlupp – 7. Scuppered Kante’s move into Palace’s box before sending a glorious ball to Zaha on the left wing, which tore apart Chelsea’s defence. Saw his own shot fly over the crossbar in the 54th minute. AFP
Jeffrey Schlupp – 7. Scuppered Kante’s move into Palace’s box before sending a glorious ball to Zaha on the left wing, which tore apart Chelsea’s defence. Saw his own shot fly over the crossbar in the 54th minute. AFP
Michael Olise – 7. The young Frenchman came close to netting the opener when his strike missed the far post by inches. Sparked a break on the stroke of half time to release Zaha into the box, who couldn’t convert from a tight angle. Booked. Getty Images
Michael Olise – 7. The young Frenchman came close to netting the opener when his strike missed the far post by inches. Sparked a break on the stroke of half time to release Zaha into the box, who couldn’t convert from a tight angle. Booked. Getty Images
Jordan Ayew – 6. Busy and hardworking, Ayew was guilty of losing possession too often. Getty Images
Jordan Ayew – 6. Busy and hardworking, Ayew was guilty of losing possession too often. Getty Images
Wilfried Zaha – 7. Came close to giving his side a half-time lead but saw his effort bobble wide of the far post. Brushed off several challenges in stoppage time before seeing a shot go narrowly wide again. Getty Images
Wilfried Zaha – 7. Came close to giving his side a half-time lead but saw his effort bobble wide of the far post. Brushed off several challenges in stoppage time before seeing a shot go narrowly wide again. Getty Images
Jack Butland (Guaita 46’) – 6. Let off the hook when he parried away Lukaku’s shot into the path of Ziyech, who saw his goal disallowed for offside. AFP
Jack Butland (Guaita 46’) – 6. Let off the hook when he parried away Lukaku’s shot into the path of Ziyech, who saw his goal disallowed for offside. AFP
SUB: Eberechi Eze (Ayew 85’) – N/R. A late substitute for Patrick Vieria’s side. Getty Images
SUB: Eberechi Eze (Ayew 85’) – N/R. A late substitute for Patrick Vieria’s side. Getty Images
SUB: Jean-Philippe Mateta (McArthur 90+1) – N/R. Another late change with McArthur seeing out his first 90 minutes since November. Getty Images
SUB: Jean-Philippe Mateta (McArthur 90+1) – N/R. Another late change with McArthur seeing out his first 90 minutes since November. Getty Images
CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 6. The AFCON winner returned to Premier League action and had very little to do. Getty Images
CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 6. The AFCON winner returned to Premier League action and had very little to do. Getty Images
Andreas Christensen – 6. After two successful starts in the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, the Danish centre-back started his first Premier League game since December. Getty Images
Andreas Christensen – 6. After two successful starts in the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, the Danish centre-back started his first Premier League game since December. Getty Images
Thiago Silva – 7. The 37-year-old veteran found himself in the right place several times after the restart to cut out Palace. AP Photo
Thiago Silva – 7. The 37-year-old veteran found himself in the right place several times after the restart to cut out Palace. AP Photo
Antonio Rudiger – 6. The German was denied a goal by a terrific Guaita save. AP Photo
Antonio Rudiger – 6. The German was denied a goal by a terrific Guaita save. AP Photo
Malang Sarr – 6. The 23-year-old kept his place in the starting line-up after his side’s league win against Spurs, and despite putting in a brilliant ball to Kante in the first half, he was caught out by Palace’s fast attacks early on. AFP
Malang Sarr – 6. The 23-year-old kept his place in the starting line-up after his side’s league win against Spurs, and despite putting in a brilliant ball to Kante in the first half, he was caught out by Palace’s fast attacks early on. AFP
Hakim Ziyech – 8. The Moroccan looked to be one of the few influences Chelsea had to get things going. Couldn’t have had it easier than when the ball was parried into his path by Butland, though his goal was disallowed for offside by VAR. Finally got the goal he deserved. PA
Hakim Ziyech – 8. The Moroccan looked to be one of the few influences Chelsea had to get things going. Couldn’t have had it easier than when the ball was parried into his path by Butland, though his goal was disallowed for offside by VAR. Finally got the goal he deserved. PA
N’Golo Kante – 6. Released through on goal after a brilliant pass by Sarr but Guaita was equal to the shot by the Frenchman. Getty Images
N’Golo Kante – 6. Released through on goal after a brilliant pass by Sarr but Guaita was equal to the shot by the Frenchman. Getty Images
Jorginho – 5. The Italian came back into the starting line-up and whilst busier in the second half, struggled to have much influence on the game. Reuters
Jorginho – 5. The Italian came back into the starting line-up and whilst busier in the second half, struggled to have much influence on the game. Reuters
Kai Havertz – 5. A tough afternoon for the German, who glanced a header over the bar in the final 10 minutes. EPA
Kai Havertz – 5. A tough afternoon for the German, who glanced a header over the bar in the final 10 minutes. EPA
Romelu Lukaku – 5. A grand total of two touches in the opening 45 minutes summed up an anonymous display from the Belgian. Had one shot saved. Getty Images
Romelu Lukaku – 5. A grand total of two touches in the opening 45 minutes summed up an anonymous display from the Belgian. Had one shot saved. Getty Images
Christian Pulisic – 5. The American will rue an early miss when he failed to convert at the far post. Anonymous in the second half. Getty Images
Christian Pulisic – 5. The American will rue an early miss when he failed to convert at the far post. Anonymous in the second half. Getty Images
SUB: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Jorginho 74’) – N/R. Part of a triple substitution from Thomas Tuchel, which seemed to kick on Chelsea after a disappointing start to the second half. AFP
SUB: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Jorginho 74’) – N/R. Part of a triple substitution from Thomas Tuchel, which seemed to kick on Chelsea after a disappointing start to the second half. AFP
SUB: Mateo Kovacic (Kante 74’) – N/R. Played Lukaku in with a beauty of a ball immediately after coming off the bench, ahead of Ziyech’s disallowed goal. AFP
SUB: Mateo Kovacic (Kante 74’) – N/R. Played Lukaku in with a beauty of a ball immediately after coming off the bench, ahead of Ziyech’s disallowed goal. AFP
SUB: Marcos Alonso (Sarr 74’) – N/R. The Spaniard put a good ball across from the wing to the far post, making it easy for Ziyech to volley home. AP Photo
SUB: Marcos Alonso (Sarr 74’) – N/R. The Spaniard put a good ball across from the wing to the far post, making it easy for Ziyech to volley home. AP Photo

The former Ballon d’Or winner Shevchenko only scored 22 goals in 77 games for Chelsea while Torres, who cost a then record £50 million, took 903 minutes of football to open his account and only ended up with 20 goals in 110 Premier League matches.

“There is even a history of strikers struggling at Chelsea so it is not the easiest place in the world for strikers, I don’t know exactly why,” Tuchel said.

He said Chelsea have had to adjust after the loss of his first-choice wing-backs, Reece James and Ben Chilwell, to injury, and believes Lukaku has not had enough service recently.

“We have many games where we created many chances and struggled a bit in the conversion,” he added. “Now we struggle to create too many big chances for our strikers.”

Chelsea could welcome back one of their creators on Tuesday, with Mason Mount potentially on the bench against Lille. The England international could then be in contention for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool but Callum Hudson-Odoi is likely to miss the clash with the French champions.

However, Tuchel ignored talk of the Wembley clash with Liverpool, adding: “Now is the moment to be super focused on every match and don’t worry about the big picture.”

Lille are labouring in 11th place in Ligue 1 and losing manager Christophe Galtier and key players Mike Maignan, Boubakary Soumare and Jonathan Ikone.

But Tuchel, whose Paris Saint-Germain team were champions in France the previous season, said: “They were very competitive when I was in Paris. The quality of the coach was exceptional and you could tell they had the quality to fight high up the table but then they lost players and the coach in the summer so there has been a huge change.”

A meeting with French opposition is particularly meaningful for Edouard Mendy. Born in France, the Senegal goalkeeper has already won the African Cup of Nations and the Club World Cup this month.

“A lot of good things happened the last days and weeks,” he said. Formerly of Cherbourg, he and N’Golo Kante first met in the French lower leagues and became Champions League winners together. “It is like a dream to find another player in the same club who played in the same division as you,” he said. “It is a beautiful thing to find him here.”

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The Light of the Moon

Director: Jessica M Thompson

Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David

Three stars

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

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THE DETAILS

Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5

RESULTS

6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
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8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock

9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

RESULT

Bayern Munich 0 AC Milan 4
Milan: Kessie (14'), Cutrone (25', 43'), Calhanoglu (85')

Teaching in coronavirus times
Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
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Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?

Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.

They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.

“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.

He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.

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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Pandemic Parenting

Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books

Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing. 

Updated: February 21, 2022, 3:32 PM`
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