Romelu Lukaku got his first start and scored his first goal for Manchester United Monday night, delivering the game winner in a 2-1 win at Real Salt lake. You can view video of the match winning scoring strike at this link. It was just a goal in a meaningless exhibition, but it was still the number one story in global football yesterday morning.
Afterward, Lukaku focused less on the goal and more on what he has to do to develop and reach the high expectations set for him at United.
“I’m happy for my goal. There is still a lot of work to do, as a team we know we need to be much better,” he said.
“But I’m glad I’m here because you really see it’s a big club and that was the challenge I wanted.”
In the post match news conference, Jose Mourinho articulated how the 24-year-old Belgian has achieved an “evolution” into truly a “top striker.”
Lukaku also spoke to MUTV, the club’s official online video channel, following the exhibition triumph at RSL. He said: “At Manchester United, we play to win and that’s the mentality when I get on the pitch and everything comes with it. From the first day, when we had the meeting with the manager in Los Angeles, you just felt that something special was happening. But it’s down to us now; we need to work hard every day and deliver in the preseason games to be ready for the new season.”
Lukaku then discussed his special relationship with Manager Jose Mourinho, and how the boss motivates him to be all that he can be. Lukaku and Mourinho previously worked together at Chelsea for a brief spell in 2013-14.
He said: “He knows what I can bring to the team and he’s someone who is pushing me. 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.”
Lukaku was the runner-up in the Premier League Golden Boot race (second in the league in goals scored last season), and he’s expected to produce like that again, and better this season at Old Trafford. United paid £75 million to acquire him, the second most that they have ever paid for an individual player. Thus, expectations will be astronomical for him.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
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