Romelu Lukaku, or as some fans like to call him, ‘Big Rom’, continued his path to redemption on Saturday evening as he notched in Thomas Tuchel's side's FA Cup third-round win over Chesterfield.
I'm not too sure what sort of reaction I was expecting when the ball hit the back of the net. Maybe a polite cheer or at least a unanimous show of support when his name was bellowed out by the stadium announcer.
I guess you could call me naive.
It would be a little hyperbolic to describe the atmosphere as hostile after Lukaku had scored, but it wasn’t particularly friendly. It looks like some fans still have some healing to do as Lukaku attempts to make amends for his candid interview.
The Lukaku saga continues. Saturday night’s FA Cup tie saw the Belgium international bag his first goal since the interview in which he questioned his position at Chelsea.
His 20th-minute strike was received with mixed reviews by the Stamford Bridge faithful - one second the Chelsea fans were cheering, the next some fans were sitting down amid a sprinkling of boos.
It seems a bit weird to boo a player who has just scored but, then again, the Chelsea fans who did so have every right to show their displeasure at Lukaku.
Tuchel has transformed Chelsea over the past 12 months, and to criticise him as well as professing his love for former club Inter Milan shows a total lack of respect for both the club and Blues fans. Forgiveness was never going to come easily.
That being said, the general consensus was that the fans were ready to forgive Lukaku. Fans sitting in the Matthew Harding Stand chanted his name, though some in the East Stand seemed a little more reluctant.
The question now is: what will it take for the fans to fully get behind him or will this be a divide that we can expect for the rest of his career at the club?
Chelsea haven't always had the best of luck with strikers (sound the understatement klaxon). Looking at the likes of Alvaro Morata - a player who received similar treatment during his time at Chelsea as Lukaku received on Saturday night - Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain and Fernando Torres, the Blues are no strangers to misfiring frontmen.
However, the listed strikers were criticised solely for their performances on the pitch as opposed to their words off the pitch.
It’s going to take a while for Lukaku to get the entire fanbase behind him again. I don't doubt that he can do it. A couple more important goals and this whole debacle may well be forgotten about.
Us football fans struggle to hold grudges against the players wearing our club's shirt, just ask Timo Werner.
Despite enduring a tough time since his move to Chelsea, his Champions League performances have seen him become something of a cult hero to some Blues fans. A few goals for Lukaku will no doubt see that rotten interview become a thing of the past.
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