Tuchel says he will have a meeting ‘behind closed doors’ with Lukaku

Thomas Tuchel will hold converses with Romelu Lukaku on Monday to examine ongoing remarks by the Belgian that were reproachful of the coach’s strategies and which cost the striker his place in Sunday’s 2-2 home draw with Liverpool.

Lukaku, signed from Inter Milan in the close season for a club-record 97.5 million pounds, had told Sky Italy he was ‘unhappy’ with Thomas Tuchel’s system, adding he might want to get back to Italy sooner or later in his career.

Tuchel did not choose to uncover what he would say to Lukaku in Monday’s meeting or regardless of whether the 28-year-old will be back in the side for Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final.

“I cannot tell you what I want from a meeting that is happening behind closed doors tomorrow. I cannot speak out publicly and I will not,” Tuchel said.

“The noise was too big. It was too much noise, we lost totally the focus for the match and we took the decision to delay the decision,” he added.

“We need to speak to him, we need to read the full interview and stay calm and not lose our head. He is our player and will stay our player. We will always protect our player,” he concluded.