The Belgian forward was not best pleased
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku appeared to criticise his own agent amid claims that he was set to talk about his Blues future with the club's incoming owners.
Lukaku's agent, Federico Pastorello, suggested that the Belgian striker was planning to meet with the London club's prospective Chelsea owner Todd Boehly once the US magnate's takeover is finalised.
However, the 29-year-old insisted that he will 'never let someone speak for him' and that he is 'focused on helping the team'.
"Never ever will I let someone speak for me," Lukaku posted on his Instagram story. "I kept my mouth shut and focused on helping the team and end the season in the best way possible.
"So if someone out there trying to say something about me and the club, not in my name."
https://twitter.com/CfcSheikh/status/1525118174387109894
Tuchel adamant comments had not created any distraction
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was quick to insist that the comments had not created any distraction ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley.
https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1525085700743389187
"If he plans to talk with the owner maybe it’s not his plan to talk with me, so fair enough,” said the German coach. "Let’s see if he gets a meeting and he can get to talk, that’s his right.
"We will talk to anybody, to any party and we will evaluate any situation of any player, including Romelu’s. And then we will see what happens and what pans out.
"I just was aware of it five, 10 minutes ago actually. That’s what it is sometimes in football, the attention is so high that sometimes it attracts situations that you don’t want to have before big matches. But that’s the way it is.
"For me it’s not a distraction and hopefully for everybody who works for the team, and the player himself also."
Lukaku's controversial interview
The former Inter Milan frontman has struggled in front of goal ever since admitting that he was
unhappy at Stamford Bridge in December.
Lukaku, who apologised for those comments, has found some form in recent weeks and is now the Blues’ top goalscorer with 15 strikes in all competitions. The striker has scored three goals in his last two Chelsea outings.
Blues looking for revenge
Chelsea will be hoping to overcome Liverpool at the weekend after losing February’s Carabao Cup final to the Reds, with a penalty shootout required to settle the two sides.
Liverpool's reserve goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher smashed home his spot-kick before Kepa Arrizabalaga missed the decisive penalty.
Related links:
