Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is the latest to have tough words for struggling Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku who epitomised Chelsea’s lack of attacking bite against Arsenal on Wednesday night.
The 28-year-old was given his first start in over two months (more than five Premier League games) by Thomas Tuchel who, before the match, stated that he doesn’t give up on his players.
Despite the trust placed in Lukaku, he was absent throughout the game, making Chelsea look like they were short of a man in attack. He was eventually replaced by Kai Havertz but the change was not enough to pull Chelsea to a win after they came back twice to equalise against Arsenal.
Hasselbaink, who played for Chelsea between 2000 and 2004, was less than impressed with Chelsea’s performance as a whole but was particularly unhappy with Lukaku’s role in it.
Analysing the game at the Sky Sports Studios, the former Dutch international said: “For Chelsea today it was a really bad performance. Certain players are getting an opportunity, Lukaku, (Malang) Sarr and (Andreas) Christensen.
“Going back to Lukaku, he doesn’t do enough. If you want to be the man you’ve got to run around. You need to try and show that you’re bothered. You need to want to suffer.
“He doesn’t run around, he doesn’t go into gaps, he doesn’t demand the ball off his players. They play against a motivated Arsenal team who’ve lost three in a row and want to prove something.
“You need to go over the top of them and at least show some passion. There was no passion from Lukaku and Sarr and Christensen can’t make those sorts of mistakes in these kinds of matches.
He then added, incorporating a special message to Lukaku: “If you’re looking at the game they were well under par but Lukaku, Christensen, Sarr and Alonso were just not good enough for a Chelsea team who should be challenging for the Champions League or Premier League.
“I know you can’t be number one anymore but you still play for your pride.
“Lukaku, you’ve not had the best games show that you are the man and really want it. Go and show that desire I didn’t see it. That desire, I didn’t see it.”
Chelsea sale: Bidders commit to lifetime ownership if bid is successful
Elsewhere, Stephen Pagliuca, co-owner of NBA franchise, Boston Celtics, and his business partner Larry Tanenbaum, owner of NHL franchise Toronto Maple Leafs, have committed to ‘lifetime ownership’ of Chelsea if their joint bid to buy the club is successful.
Pagliuca, who recently acquired a stake in also owns a stake in Serie A club Atalanta, said: “Larry and I have known each other for over 20 years and we are committed to this being a lifetime ownership. It is a long-term commitment that both families want to make.
“Incorporating a broad spectrum of fan perspectives will be a fundamental part of our stewardship if successful.
“It was heartening to see the passion from the groups, on individual matters important to them, but also the common issues on which they sought clarity: mainly providing comfort on investment in the first-team squads, ongoing investment in the academy, expanding the excellent work in the community, and the future redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.
Tanenbaum also spoke on their decision. “Fans want championships and cups, and the best experience in their own home stadium. Steve and I are dedicated to, and will deliver, both.”
