Romeu has emerged as one of Southampton’s key men this season, with the former Barcelona 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 the Spaniard is superior on the ball.
“He’s more technical,” Puel said ahead of today’s game against Chelsea, another of Romeu’s former clubs.
“I played in front of the defence and I had a good recovery of the ball but now it’s important 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 some quality passing.”
Once again this summer, Saints 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 (right). “But in this position it is important to protect the defence.
“That is the role of Oriol with us.”
Another former Stamford Bridge player, full-back Ryan Bertrand, could return against his old side after recovering from a hamstring injury.
But Jay Rodriguez is a doubt after going off against Sunderland in the EFL Cup in midweek after a clash of heads, while Cedric Soares, Matt Targett and Shane Long are still out.
Back-up keeper Alex McCarthy will be missing from the bench after tweaking a hamstring against the Black Cats which will sideline him for two to three weeks
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