Manchester
United manager, Jose Mourinho, has revealed that he told new striker, Romelu
Lukaku, not to be obsessed about scoring, before the 24-year-old netted in
their 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Monday.
Lukaku
scored what proved to be the winner, after Henrikh Mkhitaryan cancelled out
Luis Silva’s opener.
“I think
it’s just nice for him, it’s not important for me,” Mourinho said after the
match.
“Before
he scored the goal I told him ‘I love everything you do on the pitch – don’t be
worried about scoring or not scoring’.
“He gets
behind people, works and presses well. I like everything he does. It’s easy to
feel it because he was my player four years ago his evolution has been great.
He’s now a top striker. The goal is just a detail, not important.”
Mourinho
also reacted to the red card Antonio Valencia picked up 22 minutes before the
game ended and Juan Mata’s injury.
Referee
Allen Chapman initially awarded a free-kickm but the MLS official then suddenly
brandished a red card after speaking with Mourinho on the sidelines.
“I think
the delay was because the referee asked me to change the player and I didn’t.
“Because
I don’t agree with the card. Because Saucedo, I think is the name of the boy,
he was really aggressive during all of the second-half, with what happened to
Mata and some other actions where it was a bit dangerous, which I understand.
“Young
people, enthusiasm playing against Manchester United, but you come with the
mentality of a friendly match and in the end you find yourself in a different
mentality.
“But it’s
pre-season, no problem and also a good experience for us to play with one
player less.
“Mata has
a big ankle but I hope nothing important. A few days, a week maybe,” Mourinho
said.
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