Romero is desperate to grab his chance with both hands
SERGIO Romero won’t throw in the towel in his quest to become United’s number one.
The 30-year-old Argentine is deputy to David de Gea, but he’s played 12 matches this season replacing the Spaniard in one EFL Cup tie, three FA Cup matches, one Premier League game and he’s been the Reds’ goalkeeper for eight of their 12 Europa League games.
Mourinho has said Romero will play against Anderlecht at Old Trafford in tonight’s quarter-final second leg as United look to progress to the last four following their 1-1 draw in Belgium last week.
But with a Stockholm final on the horizon next month, Mourinho won’t promise Romero will stay his No.1 Europa League choice.
“Sergio is very experienced and playing very well. He played well in the Premier League, in the FA Cup, in the League Cup, every time he plays he plays well,” said Mourinho. “It’s very important to have goalkeepers playing. If not, one day you have a problem and the goalkeeper doesn’t have the feeling for the match. I always like to have my goalkeepers playing in different competitions.
“But he’s my keeper for this match and not my keeper for the Europa League.”
Romero, however, still has his ambitions.
“When you get a chance to come to a massive club like United, even if you are aware that you might be coming initially as second choice keeper, it is a challenge you want to take up. You grab it with both hands if you like,” he said.
“What I try and do is work hard in every training session each week to try and show to the manager that I am ready and to show to everyone that if I am called upon then I am in good shape and ready, both confidence wise and ability wise, to go out and not let the team down.
“You always hope to be the number one and it is something you work for every week. To come here was a great opportunity and challenge to accept.”
United were minutes away from a win in Brussels last Thursday night but a late equaliser wrecked a professional night in the first leg.
With a Champions League ticket via winning the Europa League trophy on May 24 available, United are on full alert.
But Romero insists the Europa League has never been a second rate objective.
“At United, right from the start and the first game, it was a very important cup,” added the South American.
“Whatever we take part in we certainly want to go out and win. There is no such thing as an unimportant trophy.”
United have revived the top four battle in the Premier League with Sunday’s 2-0 win against leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford.
And Romero says it has given the squad a huge fillip.
“The result at the weekend was very important in every way tactically and in terms of morale,” he added.