Lukaku responds to being dropped by Mourinho
Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed his angry response to being dropped by Manchester United boss José Mourinho.
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has revealed his anger at being dropped by José Mourinho. Lukaku was among the substitutes for the Premier League clash with former club Everton last month and was also benched for the Manchester derby on 11 November after returning from injury. The Belgium international was missing from the starting XI once more against Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday and has revealed his surprise at being left out.
Heart-to-heart with the coach
"I was like, oh wow, s***, it happened," Lukaku, who has not scored since September, told Bleacher Report of his initial omission against Everton. "But really I had a conversation with the coach about it and I said: 'Listen, it's been a long year and also with the World Cup, I felt a bit tired.' He saw it. He made his decision. He said I didn't look happy, that I was angry. And I said: 'Hell yeah I'm angry. Do you think I should smile?' Then we had a little chat and after that we just moved on. It was just like 10 minutes and then from then on it opened something in myself, like a new fire to go and get what's mine."
Mourinho tells you straight
Lukaku did add, however, that he was one of Mourinho's "favourites" in the United squad. "[It's] because I would go through a brick wall for him. And he knows that," he added. "He's the type of coach where he would be honest with you and tell you how it is. If you cannot deal with that, that's a big problem."