Thomas Tuchel says it is "not the time to laugh" about Romelu Lukaku after the Chelsea striker only managed seven touches against Crystal Palace.
Lukaku set a new Premier League record for the fewest touches from a player who's played a full 90 minutes since statistics started being recorded by Opta in the 2003/04 season.
The Belgium international only managed seven touches in the 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday - and one of those was from kick-off.
Asked how he can get Lukaku to touch the ball more often, Tuchel said: "What can I do? I don't know. We have to deal with it.
"The data is out there and the data speaks a certain language. He was not involved in our game, it's sometimes like this with strikers, if they struggle a bit with self-confidence, to find the space and to get involved against a good defensive side, it can be like this.
"It's not what we want or Romelu wants but it's also not the time to laugh about him and makes jokes about him. He's in the spotlight but we will protect him."
'Chelsea have history of struggling strikers'
Lukaku has scored five goals in 17 Premier League appearances this season since his £97.5m move from Inter Milan last summer.
Tuchel, who is preparing Chelsea for Tuesday's visit of Lille in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, highlighted the 28-year-old is not the first striker to struggle at Stamford Bridge and suggested the reason for that could be the system he plays in.
"Maybe, maybe," Tuchel said. "There is a history of strikers struggling a little bit at Chelsea so it may not be the easiest place in the world for strikers. I don't know why it's like this.
"In my opinion, Chelsea are a team considered a strong defensive team, a physical team, that has a certain attitude when in competitive football.
"We demand a lot of our strikers in terms of defending. We want to be physical, hard-working group that wants to play a physical game and as a skilful game. That maybe plays a part.
"We are on the subject and are well aware, but like always in football it's not just one reason to sort a problem. It's a complex sport and we will try to continue to play with faith, with a team effort."
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