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Former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen believes it is up to boss Thomas Tuchel to fit record signing Romelu Lukaku into his Blues side.

Lukaku returned to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan in the summer for a club-record £97.5m fee. And the Belgium striker scored on his Premier League debut to help sink Arsenal 2-0, but things have gone south from there.

The 28-year-old has struggled for form under Tuchel and he contracted Covid-19 in December which saw him miss three games.

Then came his infamous interview with Sky Italia which really put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Lukaku said he was “not happy with the situation” and pointed to Tuchel’s system at Stamford Bridge. That outburst led to him being dropped for the game against Liverpool by Tuchel.

He was reinstated quickly after that but his form has not improved and he has scored only twice in his last 13 Premier League games.

He did net against Chesterfield in the FA Cup though and smashed home the only goal in midweek in the Club World Club clash with Al-Hilal.

Blues coach Aarno Michels claimed Lukaku had been “unlucky” and called for “trust” in the former Manchester United man.

But the player has since posted a cryptic message on snapchat.

He wrote: “If you have to force it then it probably doesn’t fit.”

Former Iceland star Gudjohnsen though believes Tuchel needs to make it work. And asked about Lukaku’s recent interview, he told Metro: “I found it very strange – initially I thought ‘this can’t be right’ but he had actually given the interview and said these things.

“I thought it was on the verge of being disrespectful. You see it and think ‘why would he want to jeopardise everything?’.

“People have only seen what he can do in glimpses this season but on his day he can be a man against boys with his physicality.

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Lukaku to spearhead Chelsea challenge

“I did think he would be perfect for Chelsea. Now it’s up to Tuchel to find how he fits into the team. He needs to feel important in the role he has.”

Lukaku is expected to lead the line against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final on Saturday.

Asked whether the game in the Middle East was a distraction, he said: “It adds games but games with prestige. If you win it, nobody can take it away from you. I lost the 2006 final to Internacional with Barcelona and it’s a big disappointment when you get there and lose,” added Gudjohnsen.

Asked whether Tuchel, who has arrived in Abu Dhabi after isolating with Covid-19, has to win the tournament, Gudjohnsen said: “Does he have to? No. But when you manage Chelsea you do have to be in contention to win things.

“The Club World Cup is a trophy they can get in the bag early in the season. And that would take a bit of pressure off him.”

READ MORE: Tuchel ‘would love’ him; West Ham decision casts new light on Rice future and price tag

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