Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel expects club-record acquisition Romelu Lukaku to make a "big influence" at Stamford Bridge, but dismissed claims that his team is suddenly the Premier League title favorites. The Blues reportedly paid £97 million ($135 million) for Lukaku's return to Chelsea on Thursday.

The Belgian will miss Saturday's Premier League start against Crystal Palace, but Tuchel believes the 28-year-old has all of the qualities Tuchel was seeking for in a forward. Lukaku's charisma, speed, and strength, he added, drew the club in.

“We are delighted to welcome Romelu back to the club. We believe he can be a terrific pick for us in terms of personality, pace, and power, he has the body, strength, and expertise, as well as the personality, to make a significant difference for us. He is a humble individual who is also a true team player who loves Chelsea. We received the impression that it was worthwhile to attempt and fight hard, and we are glad he is now our player.” Tuchel said on Friday.

Chelsea was revitalized after Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in January, climbing from ninth to fourth in the table and winning the Champions League in May, defeating Premier League champions Manchester City in the final. Tuchel, on the other hand, believes Man City and Man United, both of whom have spent over £100 million on transfers, should be considered title favorites.

“When you come forth, you will not be the favorites for the following season; we need to close some gaps. In the last match, we let Liverpool past us, and we have a significant gap to close between Manchester United and Manchester City. When I look at the transfer market and City and United's activity, I don't see why they should be any worse than they were last season. They have improved their squads and are now steady and very powerful teams. I believe we are hungry and contenders for the top 4 first and foremost, and then we will always be hungry to challenge everyone for the best possible outcome,” says the coach.

The news of Lukaku's return has placed more doubt on Tammy Abraham's future at Stamford Bridge. Abraham has been linked with a move to a number of clubs, with Jose Mourinho's Roma among the frontrunners. “We'll see what happens in the days after that, what Tammy's request is, and what the options are,” Tuchel continued. “However, the focus right now is on our Saturday game, and there is no update on his situation.”


Source
CHELSEA NEWS: Tuchel Speaks On Why Chelsea Are Not Title Favorites And What Made Them Sign Lukaku

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He has spoken. I love this guy. As a coach he has superceded expectations at Stamford bridge