Nightmare debut for £75m Rom
AFTER the Hollywoodstyle introduction in Los Angeles, Romelu Lukaku’s debut for Manchester United did not go quite according to the script as the £75million signing misfired in the opening game on tour.
Lukaku’s failure to convert an easy chance just four minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute was all the more awkward because the man he replaced, Marcus Rashford, had scored twice in the opening 20 minutes against LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center.
United’s new captain, Michael Carrick, warned that Lukaku will discover the pressure of playing for United is a significant step up from what the Belgium striker has experienced at Everton and West Brom. After 11 years at Old Trafford, Carrick knows that only too well: he stepped into Roy Keane’s boots and inherited the Irishman’s No 16 shirt when he arrived from Tottenham in 2006.
Lukaku has taken the No 9 shirt from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who hit 28 goals in all competitions for United last season.
‘It’s a massive jump up,’ Carrick said. ‘You can’t really explain to people until they’ve gone through it and I’m sure he’ll find the same. But having Premier League experience is a massive bonus. He’ll know how things work week to week. It’s just about dealing with the pressure.
‘Ibra was terrific for us but Rom is his own man. I don’t want to compare them because it’s not fair to do that. He’ll be judged like anyone else on what he does through the season and I’m sure he’s ready for that.
‘The scrutiny and everything will go up a level. I’m sure he’s prepared for that and I’m sure he will do well.’
Lukaku’s big chance arrived in the 49th minute. Paul Pogba has been instrumental in his close friend’s move to United, and it was his interception and pass that set up Lukaku for a simple finish from eight yards, but Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe produced an excellent save.
Another effort was scuffed wide in an underwhelming debut.
‘We know what he’s all about, there are no surprises,’ Carrick said. ‘He does what he does best and obviously he’s been brought here to score goals. I’m pretty certain he will do that this season.’
Marouane Fellaini, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial scored United’s other goals in a comfortable win as Jose Mourinho changed his entire line-up at half-time.
Mourinho, too, defended Lukaku. ‘He didn’t score goals, but he played better than the ones who did score goals,’ said the United boss. ‘A good thing for me today is he’s a team player and was not worried about himself. He was worried about the improvement of the team.’
United were 5-0 up before a late fightback from the Galaxy exposed their other debutant, Victor Lindelof.
The £31million centre back from Benfica was beaten when Giovani dos Santos cut inside to fire past Joel Pereira, then failed to get off the ground when Dave Romney rose to meet a corner and Dos Santos touched home from close range.