The truth, the whole truth, and only the truth: behind Romulo Lukaku's scandalous interview

One can interpret the statements of the Belgian as impudence and look for toxic messages, but one can also look at them simply.

Michael Yochin explains why the troubles of the Chelsea striker are legitimate, but in our world, where they do not want to hear the truth, they are not allowed to be heard, so he will no longer wait for Liverpool (18:30, Sport1)

Michael Yochin

02/01/2022

Sunday, 02 January 2022, 12:30

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Summary: Chelsea - Brighton 1: 1 (Sport 1)

Want to know what footballers really think? Normally, this is impossible, but Romulo Lukaku provided in an exceptional interview exactly this specific information. In a conversation with Sky Italian journalist, the Belgian striker spoke without stopping. He addressed all the issues that preoccupied him without filters, without any self-censorship.

The fans got what they wanted, then - they heard everything going through the star's head. Unfortunately, they were not happy with the content, and in retrospect were happy not to be exposed to it at all. Why? Both because in many cases we prefer not to hear the pure truth, and also because we have become accustomed to looking for hidden meanings and hidden messages even when they simply do not exist.

The interview, which aired in Italy on the last day of 2021, was filmed three weeks earlier, and was planned even longer in advance.

There were no accidental mouth emissions there, because Lukaku had the option of preparing in industrial silence for a conversation and choosing the words well.

Therefore, the expectation of an average fan from an average player is simple - either the player produces a considerable amount of stenciled, disgusting and boring text, such as "I'm happy to play in my team, and I will do anything to march it to success," or he takes advantage of the stage to gain some space. In front of various factors within the club.

The possibility that he will simply say what is on his mind and tell without a second thought about the considerations that motivate him seems delusional and absurd.

We are not used to hearing the truth, because it is often not really worthwhile to tell the truth, and it is evident from the Chelsea squad for the huge game against Liverpool tonight (18:30, Sport1).

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The purpose of the interview, for Lukaku, was to apologize to Inter fans for his hasty departure in the summer. "It should not have happened that way, and it bothers me. Inter will always be in my heart, and I will return to play it. I very much hope so.I am in love with Italy, and I must apologize to all Inter fans who have done so much for me and my family. I hope to play "Again at Inter, and not at the end of my career, but when I am still showing a high level. Hopefully we will win more titles," he said.

For Chelsea, this is ostensibly a jarring insult. Here sits the most valuable player in the club's history, for whom only half a year ago 115 million euros were paid, who voluntarily signed a contract until 2026, chatting to him about his dream of returning to his previous team, and not yet towards the end of his career. What does he do at Stamford Bridge if he so wants to play elsewhere? And why is he planning to leave so soon after signing with the team? It's cheekiness and audacity, isn't it?

Well, not necessarily, if you look at the truth as it is, without trying to look for hidden meanings.

Lukaku never hid his love for Italy, felt great at Inter, enjoyed a phenomenal connection with the crowd, and did not long to leave it.

The love for Inter is not the same as the love for Chelsea, which he has been one of since he was a little boy in Brussels, with pictures of Didier Drogba on the bedroom walls.

Even if everything is perfect in London, he is allowed to miss Milan.

It is completely natural and human.

The desire to return again to the group in which he was so successful also makes the most sense.

That does not mean Lukaku wants to do it now.

At the end of his contract at Chelsea, summer 2026, he will only be 33, and that may be long before the end of his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently 37, Zlatan is 40, and they still play in top teams.

So one can aspire to return to San Siro in five years and try to win degrees.

More on Walla!

Lukaku misses Inter: "Lautro to Chelsea? Stay there, I'll be back"

To the full article

He never hid his love for Italy.

Lukaku at Inter (Photo: Reuters)

All this is perfectly fine, except that it is not really acceptable to express oneself in this way.

In our world, stars are not allowed to express longing for a team that has left unless they want to create a conflict with their current team.

The talk of returning to the previous place is necessarily interpreted as dissatisfaction with the current place.

Behind a simple truth are always looking for a hidden meaning.

In this case, there simply is no such thing.

Lukaku told his truth in Italian, and really did not intend to produce provocations in English.

Chelsea fans were also shocked to hear that the Blues were not Lukaku's priority when he considered his way in the summer. "There are three teams at the highest level - Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. All the players dream of playing in their ranks. I thought I would go to one of them after Inter. It did not happen, so I said there is only one more club I can imagine, and that is Chelsea "I did not think of that option until they came up with their offer. When they made contact, it was a challenge for me. It was hard to refuse the opportunity to return to the Premier League in the uniform of the team I loved from childhood," said the Belgian.

Allegedly, the stands at Stamford Bridge are likely to be damaged. Here's a player who unequivocally declares that Chelsea was his fourth option at best, and he also did not consider it until he accepted the offer. So what is he doing here, and what saw is he trying to convey when he places his current team, holding the reigning Champions League, below Barcelona, ​​Real and Bayern in the European club rankings.

However, if one looks at the statements as they are, without looking for hidden meanings, here too everything is fine.

Lukaku simply tells the simple truth that Barça, Real and Bayern are really perceived as having a more significant legacy by most of the players.

This is a fait accompli.

The Belgian voluntarily reveals his abysmal innocence, because it was clear as day that the three empires would not sign him at the high price demanded by Inter.

Bayern were not looking for a bench player costing more than € 100 million to back Robert Lewandowski, Real were focused solely on Killian Ambape, and Barcelona's financial situation did not allow them to re-sign Leo Messi as a free agent.

It is permissible to be angry even if the relationship is excellent.

Thomas Tuchel (Photo: Reuters)

Lukaku completely did not understand the picture, and it was also natural that he would not understand the considerations of Chelsea - the club that was happy to get rid of him at the time. When the explicit offer arrived, and the scorer realized that the Blues wanted him, he agreed enthusiastically to the challenge and found it difficult to refuse, he said, the opportunity to play again in the team he loves. What's wrong with this whole picture? Everything is fine, if you understand that Lukaku has no hidden motives, and he is not trying to attack his team. It's just an extremely unacceptable statement, but it was made with innocence - the same innocence that made him believe that Bayern might acquire him.

And here we come to the fascinating answer to the simple question "How are you?" At the beginning of the interview. Here, too, Lukaku's truth managed to amaze. "Physically, I'm fine. But I'm not happy with the situation, and that's normal. The coach chose to play a different method, and I just have to not give up, keep working and be a professional," he declared.

The tabloids in the UK defined this statement as a direct attack on Thomas Tuchel, but is it really so? Although Lukaku mentions the change of method, he does not explicitly say that this is an improper act. Quite the opposite - he declares that he needs to keep working to fit into this method. If he is not happy with the situation at some point in time, it does not mean that he is not happy with the club or the boss. It is quite clear, for example, that Lukaku is not happy with the number of goals he has scored, nor is he happy that he missed games due to injury and Corona. This, as he says himself, is normal. And even if the relationship with the coach is excellent, he may sometimes get angry at certain decisions. Think for yourself, remember your favorite boss. Have you always been happy with everything he has done for you or your company in general?

Lukaku may be unhappy with something at some point in time, but is expected not to talk about it in the media unless he is interested in stirring up a storm.

No problem with his feelings, as long as he does not say them publicly.

In order to maintain a normal state of affairs in the team, players should not expose their negative feelings if they have no malicious intent.

Lukaku did not intend to cause harm or convey an unusual critique of Tuchel, but his remarks can be interpreted as meaning that the press is accustomed to looking for hidden meanings behind the simple truth.

This is how the world works.

So Lukaku's interview was described as a real "bomb" in the English media.

Even Tuchel does not think he is evil.

Romulo Lukaku (Photo: Reuters)

Tuchel's first reaction yesterday was considered, logical and defined the situation exactly as it is. "We do not like it, because it adds noise that we do not need, and it does not help. It is easy to take the sentences out of context, shorten them, make them headlines, but you can find that the statements are not so bad. I do not think Lukaku is dissatisfied, and feel "Quite the opposite. If there is something, the issues should be discussed behind closed doors. When a great player like Romulo says something, it is published immediately. He is experienced enough to know how important these statements are when he speaks like that," the German coach clarified. Liverpool decided to keep him out of the squad.

There were journalists who described it as an "attack on Lukaku", but the situation is completely different. Tuchel simply told his truth - the statements themselves are not serious, but should not have been said because they produce unnecessary and harmful noise. He's not angry about the striker's truth - he's angry that this truth came out, because it's completely unacceptable. For him, Lukaku is not evil. He was just innocent and irresponsible, and his interview was extremely stupid.

And so Tukel can say to Lukaku in private: "It's okay you miss Inter, and it's okay you want to apologize to her fans, and it's okay you want to go back there in the future, and it's okay you wanted to play for Barcelona, ​​and it's okay Chelsea was not your first option, and that's okay That you are not always happy with the lineup. Every player has an emotional charge, everyone has dreams and aspirations, and no one is always happy. It should not bother you to be a major star at Chelsea, and our relationship will be excellent. Your truth is legitimate, but it is not legitimate to express it. "

If this message is internalized, the industrial quiet will return to Stamford Bridge, and the "storm" will disappear in a very short time.

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• Romulo Lukaku

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