BRIGHTON v CHELSEA
The £97.5million club record signing was supposed to be a game-changer for Chelsea, the man to close the gap to Manchester City and, perhaps, deliver a first Premier League title since 2017.
Instead, Tuchel finds himself further away from the top of the table than he was the day he took charge at Stamford Bridge almost a year ago.
And if the 13-point gap to Pep Guardiola’s runaway leaders is not enough to make him sit uneasily as he approaches his 12-month anniversary, his failure to get the best out of Lukaku only compounds his problems.
When Roman Abramovich spends big, he expects a return on that investment. The struggles of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner contributed to Frank Lampard’s sacking last year. The German duo are still to find their feet in English football and now find themselves joined by Lukaku, who has already publicly voiced his frustrations since his summer move from Inter Milan.
The difference with Lukaku is that he was supposed to be the finished article. He already knew English football and already knew Chelsea, having come through the academy. He was also a proven winner with Inter, having fired them to the Italian title last season.
This story is from the January 18, 2022 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 18, 2022 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'WE WON'T ALTER OUR APPROACH FOR DERBY'
SON SAYS SPURS MUST STICK WITH ATTACKING FORMULA TO SINK RIVALS
A classic in store with so much on the line for rivals
IT IS 20 years this week since Arsenal's 'Invincibles' won the league at White Hart Lane, crowning one of the finest campaigns in English top-flight history in the sweetest way possible.
City show they can flex muscle without Haaland
De Bruyne and Foden step up in star's absence to turn heat on Arsenal
Quins must find right tempo to keep title dream alive
HARLEQUINS hope the high-octane Twickenham factor can supercharge their Premiership play-off bid in tomorrow's crucial clash against league leaders Northampton.
Thoma Bravo agrees $5bn deal to buy Darktrace
CYBERSECURITY firm Darktrace today became the latest business to quit the London Stock Exchange after it unveiled a $5.3 billion deal to be acquired by US private equity firm Thoma Bravo.
£100bn City exodus as companies sell up or move their main listing
COMPANIES worth about £100 billion are on the way out of the London stock market so far this year, either by being bought up or via moving the main home for their shares overseas, and experts fear there is much more to come.
Move over Dire Straits, stadium pop is now fashion, fabulous and gay
I CONCEDED that this week belonged to one woman, on waking up Monday morning to be greeted by every news channel -leading with concurrent Taylor Swift stories.
My mixed-race identity is not your punchline
A NASTY debate has broken out online about how someone's mixed-race identity is impacted by which of their parents is white.
It's all we have left: the chance to end Arsenal's title hopes
IMAGINE you are nearing the end of running the London Marathon. You can see the finish line.
I am disappointed with Sadiq. I am furious with him
Mayoral candidate Natalie Campbell tells Ross Lydall about working for the royals, class in London and what the capital needs
