Antonio Conte believes Chelsea are yet to find the best role for Romelu Lukaku, but backs the player to improve even further as a player at the club.
Lukaku has four goals in all competitions for the Blues so far this campaign after re-joining the club from Inter Milan in the summer.
But, he has failed to get on the scoresheet in Chelsea’s last two Premier League games against Tottenham and Man City.
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After being used as a lone striker during the early weeks of the campaign, he started alongside Timo Werner in the 1-0 defeat to Man City on Saturday, with many people slamming Tuchel’s decision to change tactics.
Conte, who managed Lukaku at Inter last season, believes Chelsea will be a real force to be reckoned with once Tuchel finds the best way to use the player.
‘I think he can still do better, above all with his technique. He is already at a very high level, but a player must keep improving until the day he retires,’ he told Sky Italia.
‘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.
‘Last season, they didn’t have a proper centre-forward, so they rotated positions, whereas Romelu is a real reference point in attack. If they can figure out how to use Lukaku, then Chelsea can become the team to beat in the Champions League this season.’
The Belgian star led the line for Chelsea in the Champions League group stage game against Juventus, but they were beaten 1-0 by the Serie A giants.