Rashford stars for United in States
JOSE Mourinho will experiment with Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford up front together on United’s pre-season tour.
Rashford scored twice and assisted Marouane Fellaini’s finish during a superb first-half at the LA Galaxy on Saturday night before he made way for Lukaku at the interval. The Belgian could have netted on his first United outing with practically his first touch but was denied and could not get on the scoresheet as United thrashed their hosts 5-2.
And Mourinho has plans to partner Rashford with £75m striker Lukaku. “Today he was in a different team to Lukaku,” Mourinho said. “We will also try both in the same team, which I think can also work.”
Lukaku and Rashford could now start together tomorrow, when United play at Salt Lake City.
ROMELU Lukaku has been warned he faces intense scrutiny at United.
The Belgium international striker completed his £75m move to Old Trafford from Everton last week.
And former United full-back Phil Neville has offered the 24-year-old some guidance on the added pressures of playing for the Reds.
“He will realise that he has left a great club in Everton,” said Neville, who also played for the Toffees. “I played there for eight years, but he has gone to United now and the scrutiny will be there, on and off the pitch. Off just as much as on – how he portrays himself on social media, what he does on the training ground – we saw earlier in the week one bad pass in training and the whole of the English press were poking fun at him.
“That is the scrutiny he is under now he is playing for a club where the pressure is probably greater than ever, far greater than when I played. The expectation level is far greater than when I played and the pressure is, definitely.
“He has been bought to win the Premier League for United, they haven’t done it since Sir Alex Ferguson left so every year that goes by that is more pressure added on the players that are there.” Neville, talking at the Star Sixes tournament at London’s O2, reckons Lukaku does still have something to prove despite the sizeable price-tag, as the striker made his United bow in United’s 5-2 win over LA Galaxy, failing to find the net during his second half, 45-minute debut.
“It caught me by surprise, the move. Everyone was fixated on (Real Madrid striker) Alvaro Morata,” he said.
“Morata was going to United and Lukaku going to Chelsea. Maybe it was a smokescreen or United acting fast if the Morata deal fell through. It is good business.
“They have signed a player with vast potential but he has a lot to prove. Sometimes when you spend £75m on a player you get the finished article but I think with both Paul Pogba and Lukaku, United haven’t bought the finished article and they have got players who have a lot to prove.
“Romelu has scored goals in the past four seasons, for West Brom and Everton, they are buying someone who scores goals in this league – that is guaranteed.
“But they are also buying someone who has the ability to improve and needs to show it on a bigger stage.
“For the past 12 months he has probably told everybody he wants to play on the biggest stage – well, he is now playing on the biggest stage and it is time to deliver.”