Thomas Tuchel slammed for "overzealous nonsense" in dealing with Romelu Lukaku

Thomas Tuchel has been criticised for making a mountain out of a mole hill with his "overzealous nonsense" after Romelu Lukaku's heroics helped Chelsea become world champions.

Lukaku put an end to a turbulent couple of months on Saturday by scoring in a superb all-round performance as the Blues' won the Club World Cup final over Palmeiras.

It was only at the beginning of January that the striker's future at Stamford Bridge looked uncertain following his part in an explosive interview, where he admitted he was unhappy at the club just six months after returning in a £97.5m transfer.

He was subsequently dropped by Tuchel before going on to issue an apology, though his manager's decision to axe him ahead of a crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool came under fire.

Now Tuchel's actions have been further brought into the spotlight in claims from BBC Sport's Garth Crooks, who suggests the Chelsea boss could have made the situation a whole lot worse.

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"I said Thomas Tuchel would need Romelu Lukaku and so it is proving," Crooks told BBC Sport.

"The overzealous nonsense by the Chelsea manager in sanctioning the Belgium striker after he fell for the flattery of an interviewer in Italy almost cost Tuchel and the club.

"Instead Lukaku apologised when other strikers of similar calibre might have put two fingers up to the manager and made for the exit.

"All credit to Lukaku, who has knuckled down and worked his way back to form with regular appearances, which is all the £97.5m player wanted in the first place.

"Lukaku led the line brilliantly against Palmeiras and was instrumental in Chelsea winning the Club World Cup for the first time in their history. Not a bad return."

It was Lukaku's goal against Saudi side Al-Hilal in the semi-finals which saw Chelsea progress into Saturday's showpiece event - with his two strikes his first goals following a five-game drought.

Some scepticism has been aimed in Lukaku's direction over his overall contribution to Chelsea, given many felt he would be the missing piece of the jigsaw, while Tuchel is yet to be convinced.

Ex-Chelsea star Geremi also suggested in the lead up to the final that Lukaku can offer more in a blue shirt, despite stating his belief that the striker's comments over his future were blown out of proportion.

"His attitude says that he is happy, so I think it was all misinterpreted about what he said," Geremi told Mirror Football.

"Of course, I think he can still give more, but he is trying. Lukaku is one of the best strikers in the world and every club would love to have him in the squad."

Geremi's view is one shared by his former teammate and Lukaku's mentor Didier Drogba, who hopes the forward's Club World Cup contribution can prove as a launchpad for the rest of his Chelsea career.

"I hope he learned something from me," Drogba said in the aftermath of Saturday's triumph. "He's a goalscorer, he'd done that before and he's having a difficult moment.

"But bouncing back with this kind of trophy will bring his confidence back.

"His goalscoring record is unbelievable. Can he believe in himself more? Yes. I think this goal will help him a lot.

"Is it a turning point? Yes, I hope. We all hope for that because it is important for the club.

"He put himself under a certain amount of pressure by coming back to the club where he started.

"It is difficult and you come back because you want to prove a point, but he's winning and I think he's going to make it."