Former Chelsea assistant Jody Morris claims Kai Havertz had one of his best games in a Chelsea shirt

Former Chelsea midfielder and ex-assistant manager Jody Morris praises Thomas Tuchel for picking Kai Havertz over Romelu Lukaku in their 2-0 win over Lille in the Champions League.

The German international notched the first goal in the eighth minute before Christian Pulisic added to his tally to seal the victory for the Blues in the first-leg of their last-16 tie at Stamford Bridge.

It was a bold decision from the boss to drop £97million signing Lukaku after coming under intense criticism as he continues to struggle since his return to west London.

Former midfielder Jody Morris praises Thomas Tuchel for picking Havertz over Romelu Lukaku (pictured)

Although Morris believes former Borussia Dortmund boss Tuchel has a good headache on his hands with the options of Havertz and Lukaku to choose from – with the Blues still competing for multiple trophies.

‘Lukaku is a top player and when a top player finds themselves on the bench they look at themselves. He’s proved he’s a top player time and time again,’ Morris told BBC Radio 5 Live.

‘At the moment it’s not working but he has notched a couple of goals recently in the World Club Cup. 

‘The manager may bring him back for Liverpool at the weekend – it’s that kind of club where you have so many resources.

Morris believes boss Tuchel has a good headache on his hands with Havertz (pictured) and Lukaku at his disposal 

‘It’s a good headache to have for the manager but it’s one where he will think he’s been proven right.

‘Kai Havertz, you have to give the manager credit for picking him and Havertz had one of his best games in a Chelsea shirt.’

The Blues have not been at their best, but appear to still be getting the job done, as they edge towards the quarter-finals – having already won the Club World Cup and reaching the Carabao Cup final this season.  

‘Chelsea are not even firing on all cylinders and have won quite a few games where they’ve not been at their best but one loss in 19 is great by anyone’s standards.

Morris insists Chelsea are not even firing on all cylinders yet have only lost once in their last 19 matches 

‘Tonight they were at seven or eight out of 10 but they’ve been below that and managed to win games. 

‘If they start performing to the levels people are capable of then nobody in this competition would want to come up against Thomas Tuchel’s side. 

‘He will be looking towards a real charge towards the end of the season.

‘N’Golo Kante was his world-class best. Lille didn’t threaten enough and when they got close to the Chelsea goal ran into a brick wall.

The former Chelsea assistant manager Morris thought Kante was his world-class best in the win over Lille

‘It was a really accomplished performance from Chelsea. The clean sheet is huge at home. 

‘With the games they have to catch up in with the league it may allow them to rotate the squad even more.

‘It should’ve been more, that’s the only disappointment that Tuchel will have, but you can’t really moan about a 2-0 win in the last 16. 

‘Chelsea have been winning without playing their best and if some of these players start performing at the levels they’re capable of then they could go on a long run.’