Lukaku in crisis: De Rossi plans to rest him

What’s happening to Romelu Lukaku? This is the question that is on the minds of a part of the Roman fans following the centre-forward’s performances in recent weeks. Yes, because after a more than positive start to the season, the flagship of the Giallorossi summer market seems to have lost the feeling with the opposing goal but above all the ability to impact the results of the team led by Daniele De Rossi. An involution demonstrated not so much by the numbers considering that, since wearing the Roma shirt, Big Rom has scored 15 goals in 29 appearances. The issue that is starting to alarm more than some is the ability to impact individual matches – especially big matches – and consequently the rankings. In fact, when he found himself having to carry the group on his shoulders in the most delicate moments, Lukaku was unable to make the difference as would have been expected from a player who cost a total of 20 million euros (for a one-year loan).

numbers

—

In Serie A, the number 90 has scored 9 goals (to which must be added 5 in the Europa League and 1 in the Italian Cup), but almost all of them have come against small-medium teams. The only exceptions are the goals scored against Napoli and Fiorentina. But this doesn’t seem to be the only problem. Analyzing in detail the matches in which Lukaku entered the list of scorers, it is inevitable to notice how his goals gave Roma fewer points than expected. Only in the matches won against Lecce (2-1 thanks to a goal from the Belgian that made it 1-1) and Verona (2-1 in which he scored the momentary 1-0 goal) and in those drawn against Torino and Fiorentina ( both finished 1-1) the presence of the Chelsea-owned striker really made the difference in terms of the standings. An exaggeration? Absolutely not given that – scoresheets in hand – the goals scored against Cagliari (2), Napoli, Empoli and Frosinone had no impact in terms of points, considering that Roma would have achieved the victory anyway.

too tired

—

Obviously, hypothesizing that Lukaku has forgotten how to score would be absurd (he has scored 303 goals from the start of his career to today). If anything, Romelu risks paying for too many commitments accumulated in recent months. After Cristante, he is the player to have scored the most minutes on the pitch (2486′ against the 2715′ of the midfielder, who however has already reached 31 appearances against Romelu’s 29). Therefore, as explained by De Rossi after the defeat against Inter, a bit of rest would most likely help the attacker return to the one he was at the beginning of the season. In the meantime, however, Big Rom’s decline in performance has not gone unnoticed even in Belgium, where sports newspapers are wondering about the difficult moment the Red Devils’ center forward is going through. Just take a look at today’s newspapers which – after the disappointing performance against Inter – did not hesitate to describe the Romelu seen at the Olimpico against the Nerazzurri as “The invisible Lukaku”.