Thomas Tuchel links Romelu Lukaku's form to flops like Fernando Torres

Thomas Tuchel believes Romelu Lukaku's struggles at Chelsea show similarities to previous forward flops at the club, including Fernando Torres and Andriy Shevchenko.

Much has been made about Lukaku managing just seven touches in 90 minutes against Crystal Palace, the worst on record since that data was collected from 2003, and asked to pinpoint the Belgian's problem, Tuchel was dumbfounded for an answer.

'What can I do? I don't know,' he said.

'Well, we have to deal with it. The data is out there and speaks the language that he wasn't in our game.

'With strikers, it can be like this when they lack confidence or depending on the game. It's not the time to laugh about him, he is our player and we will protect him.'

He added: 'There's a history of strikers struggling at Chelsea. It is obviously not the easiest place to play. I'm not sure why it is.

'Chelsea is seen as a defensive, physical team with a strong competitive attitude and we ask a lot of our strikers in defending.'

While Tuchel went on to stress that he believes Lukaku is 'part of the solution' to Chelsea finding their best form ahead of a defining week which includes the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Lille, a Carabao Cup final with Liverpool and an FA Cup fifth round trip to Luton Town, he did not put blame for the striker's form on Chelsea's system.

More to follow.