
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel insists Romelu Lukaku remains in his plans.
Tuchel insisted the Belgian still had a big role to play in the final two months of the campaign as Chelsea continue the fight in two cup competitions as well as the league.
"The situation at the moment is that we cannot talk to players," Tuchel said of speculation about his striker's summer plans. "We cannot sell and cannot buy so we don't even need to think about it because these are the players that we have.
"Romelu still plays a big part in our plans, not the part maybe that he wants to play and I totally understand that but he used his time off to disconnect a little bit. He had one week of holiday and then was back with us. I feel him very motivated and strong in training. He is a winner, he will stay a winner and he will stay important for us.
"He had a good match in Middlesbrough [last time out in the FA Cup] which was a huge boost for all of us and for him personally. There is no space now for bad mood or disappointment. There are a lot of matches coming in the decisive weeks of the season and that's why there's no space for second thoughts or for being distracted. We have to focus and we need every single player."
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