Former Inter Milan striker Antonio Cassano has leapt to the defence of Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel by suggesting that Antonio Conte ‘shouldn’t dare’ suggest that the Blues don’t know how to use Romelu Lukaku.
Belgium international Lukaku sealed a memorable return to Stamford Bridge earlier this year in a £98m move from Inter and has endured a somewhat inconsistent period.
Despite a bright start in which he netted four goals in as many games, Lukaku is now six games without finding the net.
Whilst Tuchel is unconcerned, former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte suggested that the Blues are yet to fully work out how to get the best out of the striker.
He said: “He is already at a very high level, but a player must keep improving until the day he retires.
“During the game, there are moments when Lukaku needs to be turned on, but other than that he is one of the toughest forwards to play against, because he can do damage in any area of the pitch.
“If you have a centre-forward like that, you need to use him and I don’t think Chelsea have quite figured out how to use him yet.”
The comments have caused a bit of a stir among the Chelsea fanbase and pundits alike.
They do however not sit well with former Inter Milan and Manchester United forward Antonio Cassano, who has criticised Conte, whilst lending a word of advice to Lukaku that he has to adapt to Chelsea’s style of play, rather than the Blues trying to shoehorn him in.
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Talking on Twitch, the 39-time Italian international said: “Lukaku is struggling, he clings to the defender, and it’s his teammates who go looking for him.
“Tuchel doesn’t have to learn from Conte how to make Lukaku play; a coach shouldn’t dare to say things like that to someone who has won what he has won.”
He continued: “Chelsea are distorting themselves to get Lukaku into the game, it’s Lukaku who has to follow Chelsea’s idea, but he doesn’t have the characteristics Tuchel wants.”
