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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Rio Ferdinand agrees with Gary Lineker on how Romelu Lukaku should be treating team-mates

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Romelu Lukaku should be "going nuts" at his Chelsea team-mates for his lack of service in recent weeks.

The Belgian striker had just seven touches of the ball during Chelsea's Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, setting a new record low.

Speaking on Match of the Day, former England strikers Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer questioned Thomas Tuchel's side for not creating enough opportunities for Lukaku.

"When I played, if I wasn’t getting much of the ball, if I wasn’t getting service, I would be hammering people," insisted Lineker.

Lukaku has endured a difficult time at Stamford Bridge since re-signing for Chelsea last August, scoring just five Premier League goals.

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Romelu Lukaku had just seven touches of the ball during Chelsea's win against Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon (Getty Images)

Speaking on his Vibe with Five podcast, Ferdinand slammed Lukaku's team-mates for not creating more opportunities for the prolific forward.

Lukaku has excellent record in front of goal, finding the back of the net more than 300 times for club and country during his career.

"I agree with Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer by the way, if anyone saw their comments," said Ferdinand. "If I’m Lukaku I’m going nuts.

"[I would be saying] get me that ball, get wide and cross me the ball, play the ball in behind when you get the opportunity, play to my strengths.

"I think that’s probably the biggest issue you’ve got with Chelsea at the moment - what’s their best team? I don’t think Tuchel knows his best team at the moment.

"He wants to get a £100million player in - which is understandable - in Lukaku and he’s hit a bit of a bad run in terms of goals.

"They’ve got to find a way of playing to his strengths. Lukaku’s strengths… what are they? He’s a fox in the box.

"You get that ball in the box and if it drops to him invariably he’ll put it away. He’s shown that everywhere he’s been all throughout his career.

"You cross the ball he can finish, he loves the ball played in behind to run on to things, to bulldoze his way past people.

Lukaku's Chelsea team-mates have been criticised for their lack of service into Lukaku (Getty Images)

"I just don’t feel at the moment they’ve been playing to those strengths which have enabled him to be a £100m player.

"If it was you in that situation [where you’re not getting the ball] you’d be going, 'I’ve got to find the ball, I’ve got to get a touch.'

"But sometimes for the betterment of the team and what the manager wants to be that focal point and keeping two defenders occupied by staying up the pitch.

"The moment you start coming back and bringing more players in that midfield area the manager will go, 'You’re messing up what we’re trying to do.'

"You’ve got to sacrifice your own game.

"I feel that’s what he’s doing at times, he’s sacrificing his own goal for the betterment of the team which is affecting his stats which he gets judged on."

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