Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been told he had no choice but to drop Romelu Lukaku from his squad to face Liverpool after the striker's comments to the Italian media.
The Blues boss held showdown talks with the club record signing after Lukaku told Sky Sport Italia he was unhappy with the situation at Stamford Bridge, just months after rejoining Chelsea following a spell with Inter Milan.
Tuchel's side came from 2-0 down to claim a draw in Lukaku's absence, and the manager revealed the Belgian's involvement in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur would be determined after Monday's talks.
And former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has suggested Tuchel "had to take action" after being undermined by the former Manchester United striker.
Should Chelsea recall Lukaku against Spurs? Have your say in the comments section
"I think the coach has chosen to play with another system, I just have to not give up and continue to work and be a professional," Lukaku said in his Sky Sport interview, which was made public several weeks after it took place.
"I am not happy with the situation, but I am a worker and I must not give up."
Lukaku had returned to form after struggles with injury and illness, scoring in back-to-back games against Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion, but Sutton insisted Tuchel's decision was made for him.
"[Lukaku] has undermined the manager publicly. Tuchel had to take action because if he didn't he would lose respect of the players," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"What was his motive? This isn't a 19-year-old, this is a guy who has been around. I thought he would be the difference this season at Chelsea.
"It hasn't been blown up, he said he is unhappy at Chelsea and that can only cause unrest.
"It was calculated what he did, a guy with a big ego, a big reputation. This was all unnecessary. Every action has a consequence."
Sutton is not the only former Chelsea striker to criticise Lukaku amid the recent comments, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink voicing his concerns on Sky Sports over the weekend.
"The best thing he can do is not give interviews anymore," the Dutchman said.
"That is just absolutely bad. Bad bad bad. I like Romelu, he's a magnificent player. When he's playing he gives Chelsea a different dimension.
"But what he's said and how he's said it, I don't understand."
Lukaku's two goals at the end of 2021 brought his tally for the season up to seven, with only Jorginho scoring more for Chelsea this season.
The Blues have three cup games before they are next in action in the Premier League, with an FA Cup meeting with Chesterfield sandwiched in between their double-header against Spurs in the Carabao Cup.
Their next league game is away at league leaders Manchester City on January 15, where defeat would see them drop 13 points behind the defending champions.
