This archive report was first published on 6 January 2022.
January 6, 2022, marked a significant day for Chelsea as they secured a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup semi-final. The victory was a welcome boost for the team, who have been struggling with injuries and COVID-19 cases.
One of the key players to return to the team was Romelu Lukaku, who had been left out of the squad for the previous match against Liverpool. Lukaku had previously apologized for expressing his dissatisfaction with his role at Chelsea in a TV interview.
Despite not scoring a goal, Lukaku earned praise from manager Thomas Tuchel for his strong performance. Tuchel stated, "I am happy with the performance, I liked how he played. He was strong, involved and showed huge commitment in our defensive work which was important."
Tuchel also expressed his confidence in Lukaku's ability to handle pressure and adversity, saying, "I expected it honestly because Romelu can handle pressure and adversity."
The win was a significant morale booster for the team, who have been struggling to find their footing in the Premier League. Chelsea is currently 10 points behind leaders Manchester City and has been hit with several injuries, including those to defenders Thiago Silva and N'Golo Kante, who were ruled out due to COVID-19.
Despite these challenges, Tuchel was pleased with the team's performance, saying, "I liked this performance. It was far from normal today against Tottenham who are compact and full of confidence."
