Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has praised his new signings, Romelu Lukaku, and Nemanja Matic, after Red Devils’ comprehensive drubbing of West Ham at Old Trafford.
Lukaku, a £75million signing from Everton, struck twice on his home debut to put United in control of the game, following on from his goal against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup in Skopje in midweek.
The Belgian striker became the latest debutant to score on the opening weekend after Wayne Rooney, Alexandre Lacazette and Alvaro Morata were all on target for their new clubs.
The £75million signing scored the first two before goals from Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial
On Lukaku’s performance Mourinho told reporter after the match: “Romelu scored in the Super Cup, he scored twice today, he’s playing well and he’s working hard.
“He likes the team and the team likes him. Strikers can play phenomenally well, but if they don’t score goals, the pressure is on them.
“So, I think it was good for him to score and for all the guys arriving at new clubs who scored goals on their first games. It’s always oxygen, it’s happiness and confidence for them.
“Romelu knows we well. He knows sometimes strikers can play well but not score, but from me there will be no pressure. Today was very good and he was very effective, with the first goal especially. Good for him for Rooney, Morata and Lacazette.”
Matic was voted man-of-the-match as he dominated the midfield on his home debut following a £40m move from Chelsea.
It has raised questions about Chelsea’s decision to let the Serbia international join their Premier League title rivals, but former Stamford Bridge boss Mourinho insisted that he did nothing to ‘disturb’ his old player.
Mourinho also spoke highly of debutant Nemanja Matic fine performance in midfield
Asked why Matic was allowed to leave, Mourinho said: “It depends what was happening behind doors, we don’t know. The only thing I know is that with Chelsea’s money I brought him to Stamford Bridge because I thought he was a player with special qualities, and since I left I always felt he could be a perfect player for us.
“I didn’t disturb him, I didn’t think it was possible unless something special was happening, and it was because his agent said we could have him. We have him and we are very happy. He was a player this team needs.”
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