Saturday 29 October 2016 11:31, UK
Claude Puel played in the same position as Oriol Romeu but insists the Southampton midfielder is a "more technical" player than he was.
The Spaniard has emerged as one of Saints' key men this season, with the former Barcelona and Chelsea man excelling at the base of Puel's midfield.
Puel was himself a tough-tackling defensive midfielder during a 19-year career with Monaco, but he says Romeu is superior on the ball.
"He's more technical," Puel said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's game against Chelsea, live on Sky Sports 1HD.
"I was a different generation. I played in front of the defence and I had a good recovery of the ball, but now it's important in modern football to have a player in this position who is very technical.
"To play in this position, it's important the player can have a good ability to work the ball and to change and to switch it wide while anticipating the situation.
"It's important because it's a part of the team and all the opponents try to make a good pressing, because every ball recovery on this play is dangerous for the team.
"It is important for this player to be a good technical player, to not lose the ball and to start the action with quality."
Once again this summer Southampton lost key players, and once again it seems to have made little difference, with Romeu stepping seamlessly into Victor Wanyama's role following his move to Tottenham.
"Tough tackling is the first quality of the player in this position," added Puel. "But in this position it is important to protect the defence. That is the role of Oriol with us."
