Begian forward re-joined Chelsea from Inter Milan for a club-record fee last week.
The striker is set to make his second Chelsea debut on Sunday,
when Thomas Tuchel’s side travel to Arsenal, 4.30pm
Romelu Lukaku says working under Antonio Conte at Inter Milan helped him overcome self-doubt,
and he sees himself as a leader on his return to Chelsea.
It’s not a secret that Lukaku was a childhood fan of Chelsea, looking up to iconic players,
such as Didier Drogba, who he maintains contact with to this day.
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What’s has been said?
“We spoke a few days ago and we spoke about that time [when Lukaku was previously at Chelsea]
and about the progress that I’ve made and what I have to keep improving – keeping the same hunger all the time,” Lukaku revealed.
“The thing about Didier is that he’s a very detailed individual.
Thierry Henry is also very detailed and it’s the details that make the difference.
We talk about individual exercises that I like, what’s the goal of each exercise and we talk about those things, but also about trying to win because that’s the thing that matters.
“He’s a winner in every sense of the word and that’s the thing I want to achieve for this football club.”
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Romelu Lukaku says he is determined to win titles on his return to Chelsea,
as he reveals discussions with former team-mate Didier Drogba.
But of course, it was not the dream move to Chelsea he would have hoped for at 18 years old. Lukaku moved around the Premier League and then to Inter Milan,
where he credits Antonio Conte for a complete change in his approach to football.
Lukaku reactions to fans
“That’s something that I had on the back of my shoulders for many years.
It was a source of motivation at the time, but also asking myself questions like ‘what went wrong?’.
I was living with that for many years and that’s why sometimes, I could come over as a bit aggressive in interviews, or very defensive.
“At one point, I just decided it was better to go somewhere else and just see everything from a different point of view.
When I went to Italy, it was the best thing I could’ve done at the time.
“There were questions. I knew I had the ability, but why not? It was always just not.
When I think about my performances with Everton, missed penalties, or United games or whatever.
Or when I was here [at Chelsea] and I’d get an opportunity and it wouldn’t go well – it was always just not. Maybe it was because I put too much [pressure].
“When I went to Italy, it’s where, under the guidance of Antonio Conte,
I learnt what it took to go and break that barrier. When we did win [the Serie A title] last year, you could se the emotions in my face.
“For me, it was ten years of hard work, with a lot of ups and downs, but in the end, it was good.
Coming into my prime years, I know myself and I know what it takes. I know how to be a leader and what it takes to help my team.
“Technically, I have improved because before, back to goal was not really my thing, I didn’t like it, I didn’t enjoy it.
I’m more of a guy that likes to run in behind, find tight spaces and take players on.
Lukaku will have his first chance to test his new winning mindset when Chelsea travel to Arsenal in the Premier League, this Sunday.
However, this time, the striker will likely take the pressure all in his stride.
