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| Ig@circletalkslive |
Romelu Lukaku has admitted he's fighting for his future against Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez – but they're all pals.
The £75 million Belgian striker – United's second most expensive star in history behind Paul Pogba – is battling for game time with youngster Rashford and Martial now viewed a s the first choice pairing for stand-in boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Lukaku has been on the bench for United's last four League games and is only starting in the FA Cup.
The 25-year-old striker played from the start in the 3-1 FA Cup win overArsenal at The Emirates on Friday and made both United's opening goals for Sanchez and Jesse Lingard.
But although he admits competition is intense he insists it's not damaged friendships.
“Yes it is tough and intense - but in a good way. It's all about the team” said the Belgium.
“We try to push each other to make sure we win because we know that we are still not in the greatest position in the League still but we all want to be in the top positions.
“We want to win a trophy as well. The manager has done a great job so yes, credit to him but to the players as well and the team. Everyone wants to play for the team - it's the team above everything.”
The Belgian World Cup star was given compassionate leave in December and missed two games with Rashford and Martial both scoring to put him under more pressure.
Says Lukaku: “Yes you have to be patient at the end of the day I had to go away for personal reasons I came back and me and the manager had a good conversation.
“I know it is going to take a lot of steps but you know I am closer than ever to my best and I'm really happy.
“The dressing room is strong. We are a tight knit group. When we went to Dubai for warm wather training we had a good time together.
“We are friends also off the pitch and we spend time together. We always have a lot of banter.”
“When you play you know why and when you don't he tells you why not and that's the big difference.
“We have a young squad and that's important. For young players you need to know what to do and what not to do.
“I have been in the game ten years and been in a lot of dressing rooms we have to be humble at times – we need a lot of communication and Ollie does that well.
“Every manager has his own way of working Mourinho had a good way of working and so does Ollie.”
And Lukaku reckons a top four finish and Champions League football next season is within reach with 15 games to go.
“Definitely yes definitely why not? We need to keep going a day at a time and as long as we train and play at the same intensity I mean the teams above us will have to watch out.”
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