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Manchester United Fan View: Romelu Lukaku already showing his talismanic qualities
As Manchester United’s season is still less than 90 minutes old it’s imperative that fans don’t get stupidly excited about their impressive start to the season over West Ham United, which culminated in a deserved 4-0 victory on Sunday.
That’s a little hard, though, when most of Jose Mourinho’s best laid plans delivered in such a convincing fashion. While Mourinho wisely decided to let Victor Lindelof watch the opening encounter of the season from the side-lines following his particularly harrowing pre-season, which suggests that the £30 million signing is going to be given plenty of time to adjust to the Premier League, the Portuguese coach’s two other summer purchases more than did enough to jolt and rejuvenate his side.
Nemanja Matic was immediately towering in the centre of midfield, and suggested that even though he’s 29 the £40 million spent by United to prize him away from Chelsea was a steal. In the wake of both this performance, which included a key interception that led to the opening goal, and Chelsea’s surprise 3-2 home defeat to Burnley the question mark over why Antonio Conte actually sold him to one of their nearest rivals has only got bolder.
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But of course it was Romelu Lukaku that drew much of the plaudits courtesy of his two goals, both of which were an instant reminder of why United were happy to make him their most expensive ever player. The Belgian actually had a relatively quiet opening 30 minutes, his only contribution being a clumsy, failed attempt to drive a Juan Mata pull-back into an open goal, which was blocked by two defenders, one of which possibly fouled him.
Lukaku was given a much clearer sight of goal in the 33rd minute, though, when after Matic’s interception Rashford ran around 30 yards and then delightfully fed the ball behind the West Ham defence to an onrushing Lukaku. There was never any doubt where the ball was going to end up, as Lukaku convincingly thrashed the ball home with the conviction of man well aware of his duty to the team.
In the wake of Lukaku’s £75 million transfer fee there was plenty of discussion about whether he had the credentials to score against the bigger teams. That’s still very much up for debate, and he’ll need to find the back of the net against some, or all of Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal consistently over the next few seasons to put those discussions to bed. What’s not in doubt, and arguably is the main reason why Manchester United bought Lukaku, is that he has always been able to impose himself against the so-called lesser teams.
This was the tenth game out of 11 that Lukaku has scored against the Irons for Everton and now United, and his second was prime evidence of just how much of a flat track bully he can be. Mkhitaryan’s cross was good enough, but Lukaku was just too strong and quick for Arthur Masuaku, while his guided header was inch perfect, too.
With that second goal United were suddenly teeming in confidence, and it was both unsurprising and deserved when substitute Anthony Martial and then Paul Pogba added a third and fourth, respectively. It was a far cry from the same fixture last season, when Manchester United managed to level West Ham’s early goal in the 21st minute but then quickly ran out of ideas and limped their way to one of their 10 home draws.
Against West Ham on Sunday Romelu Lukaku showed that he has the attributes to be the difference in these contests. Lukaku’s ultimate aim will be to prove himself against the biggest and best that United come up against. But, in the meantime, if he can continue to provide goals in the matches that United repeatedly drew last year then he will immediately make them a much more formidable opposition.
