Chelsea Triumphs 2-0 Over Lille as Havertz and Pulisic Shine
Thomas Tuchel has clarified his decision to leave Romelu Lukaku on the bench during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory against Lille in the Champions League round of 16. Goals from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic ensured a strong first-leg win for the reigning European champions at Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku, Chelsea’s £98 million record signing, had faced criticism after registering only seven touches in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Crystal Palace. Tuchel opted to give the Belgian striker a break from the spotlight.
“It wasn’t the right moment to put him into the fire after all the attention on his few touches last weekend,” explained Tuchel. “This was the time for him to step back and for us to focus on the team. We had a strong performance tonight, and we should recognise the collective effort.”
Chelsea will travel to Lille on March 16 for the second leg, holding confidence in their position. Before that, the team faces Liverpool in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
The match against Lille saw standout performances from Havertz and Pulisic. Havertz, continuing his excellent form, scored early with a precise header. The German forward has been pivotal for Chelsea recently, including netting the winning penalty in the Club World Cup final.
“For Kai, his effort and work rate are immense,” praised Tuchel. “He’s been very decisive and consistently impactful in both attack and defence. The team worked with intensity, and our aggressive formation paid off.”
Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic were substituted due to injuries during the game, but Chelsea remains hopeful that neither will face a lengthy recovery.
Lille manager Jocelyn Gourvennec reflected on his team’s performance, highlighting their near parity in possession but lamenting missed opportunities.
“We’re disappointed to lose by two goals, especially since the goals were avoidable,” said Gourvennec. “Chelsea were clinical with their chances, while we could have been more efficient. Despite the scoreline, we were very much part of this game.”
Chelsea’s commanding performance leaves them well-placed for progression in Europe, with their eyes now set on domestic silverware.
