Can Erözden
04 January 2022•Update: 04 January 2022
ANKARA
Chelsea's Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku returned to the team on Tuesday after apologizing to manager Thomas Tuchel amid a controversial interview last month.
"Romelu apologised and is back in the squad for today's training which is later. For me, the most important thing was to clearly understand and believe that it was not intentional," Tuchel said in a press conference.
"He is our player, we are happy that he's our player," the German manager said.
Lukaku, 28, was previously omitted from the Chelsea squad for questioning Tuchel's tactics and talking about his own future plans by excluding the English Premier League club, where he had a valid contract for the next four years.
In an interview recorded in December, Lukaku told Sky Sport in Italy that he was unhappy under Tuchel, saying that the on-pitch role that the German head coach assigned did not suit him as a striker.
In addition, Lukaku remarked his desire to return to Inter Milan.
"Now it's the right time to share my feelings. I have always said that I have Inter in my heart: I know I will return to Inter, I really hope so...
"I miss Lautaro Martinez, I could die on the pitch for him since day one I met him," Lukaku previously said in the interview.
His former teammate Martinez from Argentina is still an Inter forward.
"Lautaro Martinez coming here with me at Chelsea in the future? No... Lautaro, you can stay in Milan, I'll be back there," Lukaku added.
It was after these remarks that Tuchel removed him from the Chelsea squad for the Liverpool game on Sunday.
Without Lukaku, Chelsea drew with Liverpool 2-2 in a Premier League match in London.
"He did not want to do this intentionally. Of course, he should have known better and that's why we have to clear the air now together.
"But, as we answer all these questions with a clear no, we need to be mature enough to accept an apology and have a clear head to prepare the upcoming matches which are difficult enough," Tuchel said, adding that Lukaku is aware of the crisis he caused and "feels the responsibility to clean the mess up."
On Wednesday, Chelsea will face city rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg at Stamford Bridge. The second leg will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Jan. 12.
The Belgian star was signed from Inter in August 2021 and sealed a contract to keep himself at Stamford Bridge until June 2026.
Lukaku was Chelsea's all-time record signing and is regarded as one of the integral parts of the senior squad.
According to British media, Chelsea paid a £97.5 million ($135 million) transfer fee for Inter to re-sign Lukaku.
This season, he scored seven goals in 18 matches for Chelsea.
Lukaku was an Inter player in 2019-2021, during which he scored 64 goals in 95 matches. More importantly, he helped the Nerazzurri claim the 2021 Italian Serie A title, ending Juventus' nine year reign.
