Ahead of the huge Champions League clash tomorrow night, Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has praised Juventus superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo as “an inspiration.” Lukaku has been talking a lot about his opponent on Tuesday in the run-up to this highly anticipated match.
He’s openly discussed a desire to move to Serie A, preferably Juve, and named the two main players that his side needs to account for after Ronaldo in this contest. And this was all before he was selected as the United player to meet the media ahead of the game.
Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford is obviously the main story line in this game, given his status as a United club legend. The current Red Devils striker believes the winner of multiple Ballon d’Or awards is an inspiration on the pitch.
‘”Look at the way he plays,” the Belgian said, “the way he performs. The way he prepares himself for the biggest games. He’s a guy who has been consistent for the last 10 years. He’s an example for all the young players coming up.”
United are tasked with stopping the leading scorer in last year’s UCL. Lukaku would not give away the store on how they will tray and do so.
“We have a plan every time we go against a team but I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just something we need to get out of,” the 25-year-old added.
“Offensively we are set up really well but then it’s on the ball where we need to make a difference.”
Obviously, the biggest story surrounding Ronaldo right now goes way beyond the game of football. Las Vegas police have reopened a criminal investigation into Ronaldo, which centers around an incident from 2009 in which a Nevada woman accused him of rape.
Ronaldo has made multiple public statements denying the allegations and maintaining his innocence, but today marked the first time he actually spoke about the case in a media session with reporters, not via prepared remarks.
He maintains that he feels at ease about everything going on in his life, and that the sexual assault case is not a distraction.
I am a happy man,” Ronaldo told a news conference in Manchester today.
“We did the statement two weeks ago, if I’m not wrong. I am glad. Of course, I’m not going to lie in this situation. I’m very happy. My lawyers, they are confident and of course I am, too.”
“The most important is I enjoy the football, I enjoy my life. The rest, I have people who take care of my life. Of course, the truth is always coming in the first position. So, I’m good.”
“I know I am an example. I know, 100 percent. In the pitch and outside the pitch. So I’m always smiling, I am a happy man, I’m blessed that I play in a fantastic club, I have a fantastic family, I have four kids, I am healthy.”
“I have everything. So the rest, it doesn’t interfere [with] me. I’m very, very well.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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