Skip to main content

Manchester United Manager José Mourinho Speaks About Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic


Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to get a rest until Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns from injury.

Lukaku has made a flying start to his Old Trafford career with 10 goals in his first nine games, including two against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday. The Champions League clash in Russia was his 11th game of the season after also appearing in two World Cup qualifiers for Belgium last month.

Lukaku hasn't missed a minute in the Premier League or the Champions League. And Mourinho concedes the 24-year-old's workload will not get lighter until Ibrahimovic returns, which the United boss has suggested may not be until the new year.

"Without Zlatan we cannot rotate the striker, especially because Marcus Rashford is playing also in other positions," Mourinho said ahead of Crystal Palace's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday.

"So until the moment we have Zlatan we cannot think about giving rest to our No. 9, the same way we give in other positions. We cannot do that."

Lukaku has been named in the Belgium squad for qualifiers against Bosnia and Cyprus during the international break, along with midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who is nursing an ankle injury.


Roberto Martinez's team have already qualified for next summer's tournament in Russia. But Mourinho insists he will not put pressure on the former Wigan and Everton manager to give Lukaku a break.

He added: "Belgium is Roberto's responsibility and it's his decision to play him or not to play him. It's Roberto's responsibility. I cannot, professionally speaking, say do this or do that, you know. It's Roberto's responsibility."

Manchester United Manager José Mourinho


Lukaku arrived from Everton in the summer tasked with filling the void left by Ibrahimovic, who has not played since April after undergoing knee surgery. He is also shouldering the goalscoring responsibility in a team that could only manage 54 goals in the Premier League last season.

United have already scored 29 in all competitions this campaign -- a mark they didn't reach until Nov. 19 last season -- and Mourinho says Lukaku is already handling the pressure of being United's main goalscorer.

He said: I don't want to speak about his progress. If I do that, it looks like we did something extraordinary in three months that he didn't have in the remaining years of his career.

"I don't think it's fair. It's just a global evolution. I think every step in his career he got it, he grabbed it with both hands.


"Since his first loan to West Bromwich Albion, grabbed the opportunity with both hands, fighting for his evolution. He was very strong in his desire to be playing in a team with other objectives now, with Champions League football, was always his dream to come to this level and since he arrived I don't think he thinks in another thing than in his success.

"So he works hard, he rests, he has a great professional life outside the football pitch. He has ambitions, he enjoys.

"So I think he's a global evolution. I wouldn't be fair, I wouldn't say that every step in his career with different managers, with different fellow players, with different teams, is not contributing to what he is now.

"And now of course I think Manchester United is a different level of expectation and he's coping well."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#RamadanDailyDigest: Knowing The 5 Daily Compulsory Prayers Time Table

As Day 2 of Ramadan fasting for this year has been completed today, Ramadan Daily Digest will briefly look at the 5 Daily Compulsory Prayers time table in the month of Ramadan. The 5 Daily Compulsory Prayers are sacrosanct on all Muslims, who have reached puberty just as the Ramadan fasting is obligatory all physically okay Muslims. There are other factors like maturity, state of health, embarking on a journey, age, among others which are considered before a Muslim participates in Ramadan fasting. A Muslim who adheres to fasting Ramadan, without saying the 5 Daily Compulsory Prayers should forget about getting access to paradise on the Day of Judgement. No Muslim should joke with or neglect the 5 Daily Compulsory Prayers. READ THIS TOO:  Significance of moonsighting and commencement of Ramadan One thing about the 5 Daily Compulsory Prayers is that it is not seasonal like Ramadan fasting, which is once in a year. The 5 Daily Compulsory Prayers can not be substituted with any other a...
Post a Comment
Read more

#RamadanDailyDigest: Breaking Bad Habits With Sunnah - Why Ramadan Is The Best Time To Turn New Leaf (Ramadan Day 15)

Just as #RamadanDailyDigest has given different insights into different aspects of Islam from Ramadan Day 1 to 14, it will continue with Ramadan Day 15, which makes it half of the sacred month of fasting. We have reached the middle of this blessed month. We have arrived at a powerful checkpoint for self-evaluation. We have ascended to a spiritual position that should make us closer to Allah. Have we reduced our bad habits ? Have we strengthened our Sunnah practices? Have we increased in more acts of worship? READ THIS TOO: #RamadanDailyDigest: Do You Know The Beautiful Names Of Allah? Daily Reflection For Every Muslim (Ramadan Day 14) Ramadan is not just about fasting; it is a divine opportunity to reset spiritually, mentally, and behaviourally. It is the best time to break away from destructive habits and replace them with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Why Ramadan Is the Best Time to Break Away from Bad Habits Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an (2:183): “O you who believe, f...
Post a Comment
Read more

#RamadanDailyDigest: Muslim Wives Are Supporters, Not Slaves

Muslims have completed fasting Day 4 today, as they look forward to Day 5 fasting out of the 29 or 30 days fasting; it is important to highlight the roles Muslim wives play in the family. Muslim wives are supporters, and not slaves, and should be treated with utmost dignity. In the religion of Islam, the roles and rights of Muslim wives are copiously written and spoken about. How husbands should relate with their wives are clearly stated. In the Glorious Qur'an, to show the love Allaah has for women, chapter 4 is also called 'Suuratu Nisaa' which translates to chapter of the women in English language. Interesting to know that there is no single chapter out of the total 114 chapters of the Glorious Qur'an named after men, further showing that Muslim wives, daughters, mothers, and all groups of females are held in high esteem by Allaah. It is a sad tale to see what happens in the present day world, whereby some women are maltreated and abused by the society and their part...
Post a Comment
Read more