Romelu Lukaku’s absence from Chelsea’s clash with Real Madrid this week is ‘great news’ for the Spanish side.
That’s according to journalist Nacho Gonzalez, who believes Lukaku’s likely replacement, Timo Werner, is ‘jinxed’.
Chelsea head to the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash this week.
They head into the game looking to overturn a 3-1 defeat in the first leg at Stamford Bridge, secured courtesy of a hattrick from Karim Benzema.
Thomas Tuchel’s side could do with a striker of the Frenchman’s prowess, having struggled in that department this season despite paying £100m+ for Romelu Lukaku in the summer.
He’s failed to adapt to life back in London and currently finds himself sitting on the bench as Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel continues to use Kai Havertz as his preferred number nine.
The Belgian missed the 6-0 win over Southampton at the weekend and will also be missing from the clash in Madrid; something Gonzalez says the Spanish giants will be more than happy with.
“Even with the new goals-against rule, Tuchel’s words and even though they come with some momentum after the drubbing against Southampton, I think they lack the fangs to hurt an organised team like Real Madrid,” he told Marca.
“The option of Reece James at right centre-back is not a bad experiment. He did it in a game against Leicester, and it worked out well. Werner is jinxed; he’s failing a lot.
“[Lukaku’s absence] is great news for Real Madrid and even more so knowing that Militao will not be there. Without Lukaku, the Blues lose a great finisher.”
