JOSE HAS ALREADY MADE ME MOUR OF A THREAT
says ROMELU LUKAKU
ROMELU LUKAKU reckons Jose Mourinho has made him a better player – after just one week.
Lukaku scored his first goal for Manchester United in a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake yesterday.
The £75m striker believes he is already a more complete player since being reunited with his former Chelsea boss.
He scored 26 goals for Everton last season but believes ‘The Special One’ can take his game to another level.
Lukaku said: “He knows what I can bring to the team and he’s someone who is pushing me.
Happy
“I push myself too, but he makes me a better player.
“I think I learned a lot from him in the last week and I’m glad I can work with him. He said I had to keep doing what I’m doing.
“I’m happy for my goal. There’s still a lot of work to do, as a team we know we need to be much better.
“But I’m glad I’m here because you really see it’s a big club and that was the challenge I wanted.
“I’m very happy now. This is the move I wanted.
“I have to make sure that I stay focused and have the same ambition I’ve always had and work hard. That’s the key to success.” Mourinho said: “Before he scored the goal, I told him ‘I love everything you do on the pitch and don’t be worried about scoring or not scoring’.
“He gets behind people, works and presses well. I like everything he does.
“It’s easy to feel it because he was my player four years ago (at Chelsea) and his evolution has been great.
“He’s now a top striker. The goal is just a detail, it’s not important.”
Yesterday’s win was United’s second on their US tour thanks to Lukaku’s strike and one from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
But the triumph was overshadowed by a red card shown to Antonio Valencia in the second half.
Mourinho admits it was his fault that Valencia got his marching orders.
Valencia got himself into trouble after crashing through the back of Claudio Saucedo which left the midfielder on crutches.
Referee Allen Chapman spoke to Mourinho on the touchline and asked him if he would like to substitute Valencia to
avoid the Ecuadorian getting sent off. But Mourinho refused and Valencia, captain of United in the second half, was given his marching orders.
It appeared to be a revenge attack on Saucedo, who earlier in the half had dragged his studs down the back of Juan Mata’s ankle, forcing the Spaniard to limp off.
Mourinho said: “I think the delay was because the referee asked me to change the player and I didn’t. It was because I don’t agree with the card because I think their player was really aggressive in the second half. That’s what happens.
“Some other actions were a bit dangerous.
“It’s young people with enthusiasm who are playing against Manchester United.
“But it’s a friendly match and it’s a different mentality.
“But it’s pre-season so no problem. It is good experience for us to play with one player less.”