Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku had another disappointing outing during the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League yesterday, struggling to get the ball throughout the encounter.
Following the game, ESPN pundit Craig Burley hit out at the Belgian, pointing to his poor movement as the reason behind his isolation.
"I'm not having two touches in the first half and one of them is kickoff," the Scottsman said on ESPN.
"I'm not having that as Chelsea keeping the ball because I've never known anybody even with a possession-based team, that's telling me his movement is awful because you can still come short.
"You can still make these 5 yard runs, give and go, comes into your feet, alright, you have a bad touch you lose it, defender comes in and nicks it off you, whatever."
Craig Burley insisted that it was nobody's fault that Romelu Lukaku struggled to get the ball during the game. The Englishman added that the striker needs to start moving backwards to connect with his teammates.
He continued:
"I'm not having it, he's not making the right movement for Chelsea for them to play it into his feet and get runners off of him, if you're only getting one touch apart from the kickoff, you're not moving your backside.
"It's not anybody else's fault because people are not passing to him, he's not getting into the right areas, that's the only reason it can be.
"As guys who played the game, I can't put my head around how you can put yourself in the park in a position where you are a dominant side and you're able to get only 1 touch of the ball."
Romelu Lukaku's stats for Chelsea so far this season
The Belgian has had a mixed start to life since sealing a big-money transfer to Stamford Bridge last summer. So far this season, he's made 28 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, recording ten goals and three assists to his name.
The striker has, however, struggled to impress in the Premier League in recent weeks, failing to find the back of the net in his last four games in the division. It remains to be seen if he'll bounce back in the coming weeks.
DocBadmus
0
this is just a simple fact. Lukaku's movement is slow
⚜️Sinclair⚜️
0
all this mumu Chelsea fans don't know that lukaku helped in the goal if he wasn't there those two defenders wouldn't av marked him to give ziyech space to shoot
anyone can get in there and get marked, u can, I can. But at least i would tire out defenders who mark me. The defenders who mark Lukaku always had the mosr relaxing games in their career.
Joel2030
1
all this mumu Chelsea fans don't know that lukaku helped in the goal if he wasn't there those two defenders wouldn't av marked him to give ziyech space to shoot
Wancou
0
Pls exchange lukaku with kane, throw in another 10mil n levi cant resist the deal 😂🤣😆
Pitadknost
0
Is a disappointment
Pitadknost
0
The guy is not good enough
Nisdoruy
0
shut the fuk up Scottish and Liverpool and my fork is always talk s*** and the English sucks look man I'm from Africa how the hell can Liverpool and people and Scottish people speaks such a funny English can someone explain to me what the f*** is going on
faaablmny
0
shut up
lopamnop
1
Wait until lukaku start getting passes like he gets in the Belgium 🇧🇪 team then you can criticise him
he can't even position him self how can he get a pass
Andy_Mac
1
Agree with Craig a Chelsea legend.
Legend?? [Crylaugh] What did he achieve at Chelsea for all those years? 1 FA Cup. Maybe that's why he always comes up with salty remarks about our club. He's bitter about the club and that's a known fact. Legend my foot.
voeblnpt
1
Grinfinz
1
Wait until lukaku start getting passes like he gets in the Belgium 🇧🇪 team then you can criticise him
Trippyfc
0
these football pundits as if them were better players.
He is speaking facts though, If you have sometime check the goal Vincius scored yesterday, watch benzema's movement, that's what lukaku should be doing.
TryNuell
0
he wants to imitate those dullards Gary and Jamie paragraph
josilva877
0
go back to Inter Milan
ChelseaFC_Addict
5
I don't like Craig Burley because he's arrogant and disrespectful at times but he is speaking the truth!!! I've said it before that Romelu Lukaku is the problem Chelsea FC have right now and you people here said I'm racist 🙄 Lukaku is the reason why Chelsea FC is struggling these days , Chelsea fc is no longer exciting to watch they're no longer playing that fast counterattacking football backed by that fast counter-pressing reaction 😢 😕 Chelsea FC made a big mistake by signing Lukaku it was a panic buy just like Morata Lukaku is useless in a big team like Chelsea FC. What I don't like about Lukaku is his bad attitude and he's very lazy he can't move he can't assist he can't score very useless he's a negative 1 player it is sad that The team is suffering because of 1 player and I feel this is not fair to Werner really
Frank2
0
So they can sell him for a good price
He is a waste already
official_uto
0
I really don’t know why Chelsea coach still allowing Lukaku to play especially when we needed to win please allow Werner to play for us he is our striker
So they can sell him for a good price
Frank2
2
I really don’t know why Chelsea coach still allowing Lukaku to play especially when we needed to win please allow Werner to play for us he is our striker
lucacdesz
2
Lukaku doesn't work for the team like Harry Kane. He is good for Italian football which is slower compared to EPL. He needs to fight with defenders like Diego Costa, bully them and he will come good. He didn't win a single header yesterday.
I agree with you my brother.. Kane is a team player I watched his movements yesterday and I was very impressed .check is involvement in the 1st and second goal for spurs.
Ceeaclmnu
3
Agree with Craig a Chelsea legend.
Joetopasky
0
Its obvious Lukaku needs to up his movement. I think the coach should start Werner in some games,he fits the system better.
misabcdenp
0
Under this type of football which Chelsea is playing no striker will do better because it's too negative. lukaku, Werner are all struggling
tiwbmpuz
3
Lukaku doesn't work for the team like Harry Kane. He is good for Italian football which is slower compared to EPL. He needs to fight with defenders like Diego Costa, bully them and he will come good. He didn't win a single header yesterday.
wimekmnot
0
I'm tied of this lukaku sage Chelsea fans warned them not to sign him but they refuse now look at what's happening original flop
bloody racist, pls keep quiet, can you play football, why don't go there and play, nonsense
Kipcdiknuy
0
these football pundits as if them were better players.
They guy spoke the truth, Lukaku is so boring, he is not making the right moves and not falling back help in the defense. He is not good enough for me playing for Chelsea. If his spirit is not with us then let him go.
JimmySherab
0
he is always after Chelsea to criticize.
Cimabdiptu
4
10 goals, 3 assist in 28 games is not all that terrible, he is a great player and he will pick up better, something is still missing in Chelsea midfield and until that is fixed, all box striker will struggle. it happens to Werner too.
AlexBishonga
0
these football pundits as if them were better players.
BryanEbohon
1
I don’t think he is a good player in the EPL he was good in Italy but it’s a different style of play! Should be obvious by now!!
he's the 20th highest scorer in epl history jsyk
Yonbilosyz
3
At last someone sensible has spoken
Josh0521
5
THE SKY WOULD HAVE BEEN BLUER WITH HARRY KANE INSTEAD OF LUKAKU 💙💙💙💙
ijelejoe
3
I'm tied of this lukaku sage Chelsea fans warned them not to sign him but they refuse now look at what's happening original flop
Beminru
0
I don’t think he is a good player in the EPL he was good in Italy but it’s a different style of play! Should be obvious by now!!
MXiuan9
2
inter Milan took you out of sh*t, and Chelsea decided to put you back in sh*t, where you belong 😂😂😂
NawarajNepal54
0
Lukaku will be flopp for Belgium too if his form not improved...