Jose Mourinho has described Romelu Lukaku as “untouchable” in his Manchester United team and defended his criticism of fans for booing the Belgium striker. Mourinho’s decision to replace Marcus Rashford rather than Lukaku was greeted by boos and grumbles during the win over Tottenham on Saturday. After a flying start to the season, the £75m summer signing from Everton has failed to score in his last five appearances. But Mourinho is happy with his performances and says, that while fans are entitled to voice their opinion, they should recognise Lukaku’s efforts for the team and also his right to defend his players in public.
He said: “The fans are the fans and I said that the fans pay for their tickets and are free to express themselves and say what they want to express. “But my job is to protect my players when I feel they deserve it. And Romelu is one of the players that should be untouchable in terms of the respect of everyone. “It’s not one goal or the ball goes against the post or save by the opposition keeper that can make Romelu’s contribution below the top level. He is playing extremely well for us and yes I have to protect my players when I feel they deserve it. “And Romelu always deserves it because what he does for the team is fantastic. Playing football for a striker isn’t just about scoring goals. So for me he is untouchable in my team and I think he should be untouchable in support from the fans.”
Mourinho hit back at suggestions that Lukaku is not involved enough in some games. He added: “I don’t think he’s quiet at all. Ask Alderweireld, Vertonghen and Dier if he was quiet and they are some of the best centre-backs in football. “I don’t think he was quiet at all. The point is scoring or not scoring is the only thing that people analyse sometimes. He wasn’t quiet at all.” United face Benfica at Old Trafford tomorrow having won their opening three Champions League group games to put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the last 16. But Mourinho says his players will not have one eye on Sunday’s grudge Premier League trip to Chelsea where they were thrashed 4-0 last season. “Nobody here is thinking of Chelsea- only Benfica and the Champions League,” he said. “We want to endure we go through to the last 16 in first place.” If United better CSKA Moscow’s result against Basel they will qualify – although they could still need points from their last two games to finish first.
