Romelu Lukaku has recently stated his desire to earn Chelsea recognition. The Belgian was Chelsea’s best striker last season even though he spent entire season on loan for West Brom. Demba Ba and Fernando Torres could not match the performances of Lukaku. He is that one player Chelsea must hold on to this summer.
The Belgian was thought to be the one to replace the ever physical presence of Drogba and his massive price tag matched those expectations. But Lukaku did not get many opportunities under Villas Boas who did not play him much. He only played mere eight times in the league and was never on the scoresheet.
Every single manager in Roman Abramovich tenure except Ranieri preferred only one man, the prolific Drogba and rightly so, the Ivorian was a terror for the premier league defenses all his time with the Blues. And after his departure Abramovich wanted Torres to take his place but he has surely failed.
Lukaku claimed:
“I knew that, if I performed well, people would make a lot of requests for me. But I’m a Chelsea player and happy to be here. It’s up to me. If I do well, I will play. I have always felt like a Chelsea player, even at West Brom.”
Last season, Lukaku netted no less than 17 league goals in 35 appearances and also scored a brilliant hat-trick against Red Devils on the final day of the season.
As expected, Lukaku now faces a new manager Jose Mourinho in charge who recently claimed that Chelsea have to build their system around Spaniard Torres even though the former Liverpool star has largely been ineffective for the blues.
Mourinho has also urged that the Lukaku should not be compared with Drogba but he surely has more resemblance as per the style of play and Blues have missed someone like Drog upfront. Lukaku can provide that strength and firepower Blues have missed over the past few seasons.
Chelsea have already signed Andre Schurrle and are now chasing Wayne Rooney to further increase quality and competition but they must hold on to Lukaku and give him the chance that he deserves. The quality and class is inevitable, he only needs time.
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Its not Jose Mourinho’s style to trust in youth he normally buys his successes,but this is one guy he should trust ,Abramovich,s insistance on keeping and playing the donkey we know as Torres,is music to the ears of fans of United ,City Arsenal and Spurs but that Lukaku is a totally different type of beast ,and his value will rise after the world cup because he will be supported by a Belgian side that reads like a premiership all stars side and a very good outside bet to do well in the world cup in Brasil next year !!