Jose Mourinho has conceded that Romelu Lukaku is tired but the Manchester United boss is not in a position to rest his No.9.
Lukaku has played every minute of Premier League football for United this season and has endured a dip in form in recent months.
Unlike Manchester City, who have been able to rotate between Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus up front, Mourinho does not have the same luxury.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return has not had the desired impact, whereas Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have both underwhelmed when given the chance to play through the middle.
“First of all, people don’t have to be grateful to Romelu. I have to be, not you, not the supporters, not the pundits. I have to be,” ESPN quote Mourinho as saying at his Friday press conference.
“I think for a striker, any player, he’s absolutely incredible, but if you are a central defender, a holding midfield player, where you can control your energy, positional play, you can resist, survive.
“But for a striker to play 20 matches in the Premier League, 90 minutes, I have to be grateful. Is he unlucky in our box in recent matches? He was in the picture, was not a direct influence on just him, but he was in the picture in some of the last goals we concede, but it is a consequence of a player that really needs a little rest.
“But the guy is fantastic for me and for the team and gives absolutely everything and I’ve no [criticism].”
Lukaku has scored 14 times in 28 appearances in all competitions for United this season but has only found the back of the net on four occasions in his last 19 matches.
