Lukaku can match Mo… at a stretch
ANDY COLE says Romelu Lukaku can match Mohamed Salah’s remarkable scoring exploits if Manchester United play to his strengths.
Lukaku has scored 27 goals in his debut season at Old Trafford but Cole, below, believes it could have been many more.
The former United forward said: “To get 27 goals is brilliant in a team that doesn’t create many chances and is still trying to find the right pattern of play. But when I watch him, I still don’t believe that he’s playing to his strengths.
“If you compare the way he played at Everton to the way he plays now, it’s totally different. If he starts playing to his strengths, and taking advantage of what he has as an athlete – his strength and power – and starts running in behind and stretching teams, you’ll get even more out of him.
“If you look at what Salah has done, a lot goes through him. He plays to his strengths. They give the ball to him early doors and he’ll crack on and do what he does and nick UP FOR THE CUP? Injured Lukaku is a doubt for the final tomorrow a goal. I would like to see Lukaku running in behind more.
“If you look at the modern game now, all the forwards want the ball to their feet. There could be 20 yards of space in behind, but no one runs in behind.
“I look at Lukaku and I think to myself, ‘Does anyone really want to chase him?’ I don’t think so.
“The onus is on the team as well as him because as a centreforward you have to make that move to show your team-mates that you are prepared to go in there.”
Cole is hopeful Lukaku can test that method in tomorrow’s FA Cup final after an ankle injury ruled him out of United’s final three league games.
“It’s not nice when you’ve got that little bit of rhythm going and then you pick up an injury,” Cole said. “So it may be difficult for him but hopefully he’ll be passed fit and do the best he can.”
Andy Cole was speaking on behalf of Marathonbet, Official Global Betting Partner to Manchester United. DAVID DE GEA
Games: 37 Clean sheets 18 Goals conceded: 28 Saves: 115 Errors leading to goals: 0 Wins: 24 Defeats: 7