Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel insists he hasn't taken Romelu Lukaku's interview personally.
Before their 2-2 draw with Liverpool, Tuchel explained he had left the striker out due to "too much noise" around the reporting of an interview the striker had given to Italian TV.
"It is not Chelsea-like but it's also not the worst thing in the world and it's not the first time that an interview out there causes some noise that nobody needs," Tuchel added after the game.
"I don't feel personally attacked. I don't feel personally angry but the noise was too big on Friday. We took the decision to delay the decision, also to protect Romelu from a rash decision, because we need to speak, we need to read the full interview, to stay calm and not lose our head. It was simply the decision to protect the preparation for a match like this. So it was clear he will not be in the squad, he will not play, and from there on there was a bit more focus to play a match like this."
Manager and player now have a Monday meeting to discuss the matter further, with the next game versus Tottenham in a cup match coming quickly on Wednesday.
"We need to evaluate the situation and not listen to the media and not listen to the pressure but understand what he said, which is why there is the meeting tomorrow," Tuchel reported.
"From there we will take the decision. If the decision is he is good to go for Wednesday, this is the decision, but I cannot tell you right now because we need to talk and understand the situation better and then from there we go once the situation is clear. There is no doubt he will stay our player and we will also protect our player."
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