Chris Sutton, a former Chelsea striker, believes that Romelu Lukaku’s difficulties at Chelsea can be largely attributed to his own fitness levels. Sutton suggests that the Belgian striker may have struggled to maintain the necessary physical condition required for Premier League football.
Despite high expectations upon his return to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2021, Lukaku’s second spell with the Blues was short-lived. He departed for Inter Milan after just one season following reported conflicts with former manager Thomas Tuchel.
During an episode of Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast with co-host Ian Ladyman, Sutton expressed his surprise at Lukaku’s decline in performance, especially after an impressive start that saw him scoring on his debut against Arsenal.
Sutton stated, “It’s quite puzzling really. Lukaku has had prolific spells in his career, being a formidable force with all the necessary attributes. He arrived at Chelsea [for the second time], scoring in his debut game and shining against Arsenal.”
He continued, “You’d think this goal was significant for him – that he was getting off to a strong start in his second stint. However, he couldn’t sustain it.”
“I wonder if his fitness wasn’t at its peak, maybe he let himself slip a bit, lost confidence, and couldn’t perform at the same level – which led to his return to Italy. He has since thrived there and with the national team.”