Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has backed his under-fire coach Jose Mourinho’s man-management style by admitting that a lot of footballers have become a “bit soft.”
Mourinho has been heavily criticised for his handling of several of Manchester United’s young players in recent seasons, with many suggesting that the confrontational style that worked well for him during his days as Chelsea boss has become outdated.
However, Lukaku has revealed that he actually likes working under Mourinho as at least he knows where he stands with the Portuguese coach, although he does admit that not all players can handle his approach.
“Sometimes footballers, we get soft a little bit,” Lukaku told the BBC’s Football Focus Show.
“If I listen to players from back in the day and now, a manager cannot say what he wants to a player because you feel attacked.
“But I don’t feel attacked, because that’s who I am – I am a tough man, but that doesn’t come from football, that comes from my background.
“My relationship with him is cool. He makes me laugh, he makes the players laugh, he’s a real family guy. He fights for his players, but he’s real. When you’re not happy, you don’t need to fake your emotions.
“People need to appreciate that, at least there are people who are real in this world like him. Because most of the managers in the league, when they are not happy they try to find a way to seem happy.
“You should respect that he wants to keep his own personality and not shy away from confrontation. Here, he really wants us to improve. He is a normal guy, we get along well. He is cool with everybody.”