Chelsea's technical director Petr Cech says he has 'full confidence' that struggling striker Romelu Lukaku can bounce back and have a 'strong season' despite heavy speculation linking him with a return to Inter Milan.
Lukaku was signed for a club-record fee of £98million last summer but the Belgian has failed to hit the lofty heights expected of him, scoring just eight times in the league in a season where he fell out with boss Thomas Tuchel.
The 29-year-old released a bombshell interview where he stated his unhappiness at Stamford Bridge in December and was dropped from the German's team. He improved towards the end of the campaign but has still been tipped to make a swift exit from Stamford Bridge.
Lukaku cited a desire to return to the San Siro in his explosive interview and the Serie A club a reportedly lining up a loan - though they will have to pay a £20m loan fee - though Cech has backed him to stay and become much stronger next season.
The boardroom member feels Lukaku was set back by niggling injuries and picking up Covid and is confident he show fans his true quality.
'I personally believe he will have a great season,' he said, via Football Daily.
'Last season we [saw] how strong he can be when he came. Unfortunately, the long term injury he sustained against Villa slowed everything down, and then he had Covid as well.
'We could see towards the end of the season when he was fit and ready to go how strong he is. We had a particular season with the Covid issues around Christmas. He was one of those players affected.
'I have full confidence he will bounce back and have a strong season.'
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All Football great players like Petr Cech knows the importance of excercising little patience sometimes with some players from time to time.He said he believes Lukaku can do better next season having been hampered by injuries and covid last season.I equally agree with him, Lukaku might do better next season if he'll be allowed to stay and prove himself at the Bridge.💙💙💙