Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku was quick to grab
the ball when his team was awarded a penalty in the 78th minute of their
Champions League game against Benfica.
United were 1-0 up and had already missed one penalty, a
soft effort from Anthony Martial saved by Benfica’s 18-year-old keeper Mile
Svilar. But with Lukaku ready to end his
barren spell and secure the win, United manager Jose Mourinho signaled he
wanted someone else to take the spot-kick. Spanish substitute Ander Herrera
showed his willingness to take the kick, but still Mourinho was not happy until
his clear choice, Dutch defender Daley Blind was given the ball and drove confidently
down the middle.
It was an unusual
scene but Mourinho said it was simply the boss doing his job. “I am paid to take decisions whether good or
bad. In the first half the decision was bad because the player I chose to take
the penalty missed,” he said. “In the second half I made another decision and I
don’t see the drama. The penalty taker for this match was Martial, he took it
in the first half and missed and he was not even on the pitch for the second
one.
“Then I have to make
a decision. “Romelu wants to take, he
had the personality to take the responsibility, Herrera the same, but my
decision, based on what we did in training in the past couple of days, was
Blind. “The players respected my decision and that is the end of story.” While
United were far from their best, Mourinho said he was pleased to have picked up
a fourth win in four games in Group A.
“We have not
qualified yet? Four victories and it is still not enough? We must get that
point from the two remaining matches. “I
am more than happy. We changed a lot of players, we broke the natural dynamic
and routines of the team and we played a kid (Scott McTominay) from the
academy. “We scored two goals, did not concede, gained three more points, more
money for the club because every victory means money and did not have any
significant injuries.”
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