Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku says that his manager, Jose Mourinho, recognizes his “soldier mentality” in his approach to the game. The military metaphors didn’t end there during the 24-year-old’s interview with Thierry Henry for Sky Sports. Lukaku told his assistant coach on the Belgian national team that he is Mourinho’s “sergeant on the pitch.”
Asked about his relationship with Mourinho, Lukaku told the Arsenal club legend and rumored potential Arsene Wenger successor:
“It has been really good, I think he knows I have like that soldier mentality. I think the work rate that I am delivering to the team is a lot.”
Lukaku has been a polarizing figure among United supporters, much as he was during his Everton days, but he’s been a prolific and productive scorer this season. Across all competitions with United this season, he has scored 27 goals in 41 appearances. He’s also averaged a goal every other match in Premier League play. He also finally scored his first goal against a team residing in the top eight two weeks ago against his former club Chelsea.
“I think the manager, in his mind, thinks that I am like his sergeant on the pitch, and that’s strange for a striker because normally, it’s always the midfielders,” Lukaku continued, “but he knows that he can count on me whenever and he knows that I will always put the team first, ahead of myself.”
Romelu Lukaku and United host arch-rival Liverpool Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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