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Sunday 13 August 2017

Jose Mourinho: Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic can swing Premier League title race

JOSE MOURINHO believes new signings Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic can make the title difference for Manchester United this season.

Lukaku said “it was a dream debut” after scoring twice on his Premier League bow as United beat West Ham 4-0, but was beaten to the man-of-the-match award by fellow summer signing Matic, who controlled midfield with impressive assurance.
Late goals from Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba put a fairer reflection on United’s dominance as they ran up their biggest League win since Mourinho took over.
“Romelu scored in the Super Cup, scored twice today, he’s playing well and he’s working hard,” said Mourinho. “He likes the team and the team likes him.
“Strikers can play phenomenally well, but if they don’t score goals, the pressure’s on them. So it was good for him to score and for all the guys arriving at new clubs who scored goals on their first games. It’s always oxygen, it’s happiness and confidence for them.
“Romelu knows me well. He knows sometimes strikers can play well but not score, but from me there will be no pressure. But today was very good and he was very effective, with the first goal especially.
Mourinho admits he was surprised former club Chelsea allowed Matic to leave, adding: “It depends what was happening behind doors, we don’t know.
"I wanted him because I thought he was a player with special qualities and since I left I always felt he could be a perfect player for us. 
“I didn’t disturb him, I didn’t think it was a possibility unless something special was happening and it was because his agent said we could have him and we are very happy with that.”
United are top after the first round of fixtures but Mourinho is refusing to get carried away.
“Last season we were also top after the first match and we finished sixth so this means nothing,” he said. “I want to make it clear, we just played well and confidence levels are high. Now the challenge is to keep going.”
Lukaku said: “To play in front of such a crowd and for such a great club and score twice it is a dream come true. But the most important thing was the win.
“The win was good, four goals and a clean sheet. We have started well so we have to keep working hard.”
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic admitted: “They were much better than us in every department, better without the ball, better with the ball. We knew they have that individual quality and that pace and strength and everything.”

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