Thomas Tuchel has hinted Timo Werner will start for Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace tomorrow afternoon. The German forward’s return to form can be used as a lesson for club-record signing Romelu Lukaku, who has struggled to live up to his £97.5million price tag.
Thomas Tuchel said: “I’m impressed, he was very, very good in the last two games. These were two games when he was much better than in any other game, and he showed what he is capable of. Everybody thinks we pick the line-up — and of course, we do — but in the end, the players take care that you don’t leave them out, they do it in training or in games. And in the games, it’s an opportunity for everybody, and especially for strikers. Things can be turned around in minutes, in moments, whole careers can be turned upside down and changed in any direction. Always as a striker, you can have a chance to put things into your favour, either as a substitute or if you have the chance to perform from the beginning. He did in the last two games, and that’s what we want from him. It’s what he needs to show, and then he takes care that he plays.”
Lukaku wasn’t involved against Real Madrid on Tuesday night; an Achilles injury meant he remained in London and watched the match unfold on television like the majority of Chelsea supporters. Yet the Belgian was back in first-team training on Thursday and will be in contention to feature against Palace.
