Man Utd news: Romelu Lukaku reveals truth about Jose Mourinho snub
GETTY Man Utd star Romelu Lukaku has contradicted Jose Mourinho
The absence of the United forward from the starting XI for the 1-0 loss to Mourinho’s former club was one of the major talking points of the Wembley showpiece. Mourinho appeared angry after the game, insisting it was Lukaku’s decision not to play, with the United manager even asking reporters: “How can I convince a player who tells me he’s not ready to play?” But speaking on Wednesday at the Belgium national training camp, Lukaku admitted that while he was struggling for fitness due to the effects of an ankle injury, it was Mourinho’s decision and not his that he should not start the game. “Of course I was desperate to play, but I didn’t look good in training at all,” he said. “It was a difficult situation. And obviously me and the manager had a conversation and he is the one that made a decision.
GETTY Romelu Lukaku came of as a substitute in the FA Cup final
I was desperate to play, but I didn’t look good in training at all Romelu Lukaku
“We had a conversation after the game where we were both disappointed that we lost the game and I said to him I am looking forward to next season to see the team he is going to prepare to hopefully challenge Man City.” Mourinho’s reaction after the Final led to suggestions that his relationship with Lukaku had been damaged after he effectively accused the player of pulling out of a game which represented United’s last chances of silverware for the campaign. But yesterday, the Manchester United star moved quickly yesterday to downplay suggestions of a rift with the Old Trafford manager. He said: “Everybody is now thinking me and the manager have a big issue or something but it’s not like that. Me and the manager have a perfect relationship.
GETTY Romelu Lukaku endured injury problems towards the end of the season
“We had a little chat after the game and everything is all clear.” Lukaku, 25, injured his ankle in a victory over Arsenal at the end of April with United managing to score just once in the four games that followed. He did manage a brief but ineffective 17-minute run-out at Wembley and has only just returned to full training with Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad as they prepare for Russia, although Lukaku insists he is now fit and ready for the World Cup. “Everything is well now,” he said. “Obviously I only trained the last two days properly before the final, I would say the last day. “Then I had a week off, then I came back yesterday where I had to do a physical exercise, a running session with the other players who didn’t come in for the week, and today I did my first training session with the group and it went really well.”
Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in Man Utd training Mon, March 12, 2018 Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez enjoyed some quality time together in Manchester United training Play slideshow Man Utd via Getty Images 1 of 9 Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku enjoyed training together at Carrington
GETTY Ex-Man Utd star Lee Sharpe is not happy with Jose Mourinho