Lukaku hits back: I’m treated differently to other strikers

Matt Stead

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has brushed off criticism over his poor record against the top sides.

Since arriving in the Premier League the Belgium international has scored 15 goals in 57 matches against the so-called ‘Big Six’ – of which he is now a part.

That record was highlighted again after he missed his solitary opportunity in the goalless draw at Anfield, shooting too close to international team-mate Simon Mignolet in a game from which you should read 16 Conclusions.

It was a chance the 24-year-old would normally have converted after plundering 16 goals in 13 appearances for club and country and unsurprisingly led to more questions about his big-game performances.

“I don’t think too much about it. I just move on,” said the striker, who was criticised by Gary Neville among others.

“I know expectations are really high but that is something I relish.

“When I was at Everton we have a different mindset going into games. Sometimes it was difficult against some teams when you play not to win and you don’t really create chances.

“Now I am in a team who want to win against big teams so I think the situation will change.

“I don’t put pressure on myself. The biggest pressure for me came in the European Super Cup against Real Madrid (in August) as that was the game when everyone was looking at me thinking, ‘Will he do it?’

“That game (in which he scored in a 2-1 defeat) freed me from everything.

“People will say this and that but I am in a situation where the team is performing really well even though there is a lot of work to do.

“The biggest strength is knowing you are going to score and knowing you are going to miss.

“A lot of strikers miss bigger chances than me but with me it is always, ‘Rom did this, Rom did that’.

“That is the standard I’ve set myself. It is something that happens in football and I am relaxed about it.”