CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Fans ‘unfair’ in criticism of £75 million striker Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku is “untouchable” in Jose Mourinho’s eyes – and the Manchester United manager believes fans should see the striker in the same way.

Signed from Everton at an initial cost of £75 million, the 24-year-old hit the ground running at Old Trafford with 11 goals in his first 10 matches.

The striker has since failed to score in his last five matches, with apparent fan agitation in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Tottenham getting under Mourinho’s skin.

The United boss said it was unfair that fans “don’t support him so much” as, whether he scores or not, the Belgium international makes a difference – frustrations he repeated ahead of the Champions League clash with Benfica.

“The fans are the fans, and they pay their ticket and are free to express themselves however they want,” Mourinho said.

“But my job is, when I feel they deserve, to protect my players and I feel Romelu is one of the players that should be untouchable in terms of the respect from everyone.

“Romelu always deserves it because of what he does for the team, what he does for the team is fantastic. Playing football for a striker is not just about scoring goals.

“So for me he is untouchable for my team and untouchable also in the support and the respect that he deserves from the fans.”

United will wrap up a place in the Champions League last 16 if they gain a better result than third-placed CSKA Moscow do against Basel tonight.

Benfica have lost all three Group A matches to date but Mourinho is expecting a tough evening, having edged past them 1-0 after a goalkeeping mistake in Portugal a fortnight ago.

“Our aim tomorrow is basically to qualify,” he said. “Ten points would be OK for qualifying but our main aim is to finish first in the group.”

● N’Golo Kante could return for Chelsea in their Group C clash at Roma.

France midfielder Kante has not played since the September 30 loss to Manchester City due to a hamstring injury.

Blues boss Antonio Conte said: “We have to give all of ourselves to get a good result, which will be important (on Tuesday).”