Romelu Lukaku led the Blues to a Champions League-opening victory over Zenit on Tuesday.

Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Thomas Tuchel was full of praise after the Chelsea forward scored the only goal in the Blues’ 1-0 win over Zenit on Tuesday.

Lukaku sealed all three points at Stamford Bridge with a 69th-minute goal, helping last season’s Champions League winners start their new campaign with a victory.

Lukaku was praised by Tuchel for doing exactly what he was brought to London to do. He told the BBC Sport:

"It was an excellent header [from Lukaku for the goal], a well-timed cross by [Cesar] Azpilicueta. He was brave enough to step up and we had bodies in the box. That's why he [Lukaku] is here. He likes to score and he's decisive for us."

Added Lukaku on his goal in an interview with BT Sport:

"Me and Cesar agree on certain types of movements on the pitch. I had to get my timing right but it was a beautiful ball by him. We knew it would be a tough game but we controlled it really well."

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