Jose Mourinho has faith in Romelu Lukaku.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Romelu Lukaku is capable of challenging Fernando Torres for a place in the team but has played down comparisons between the Belgian and club legend Didier Drogba.
Lukaku, 20, scored his second goal is as many pre-season matches as Chelsea beat Malaysia XI 4-1 on Monday.
The Belgium international enjoyed a fine season on loan at West Brom last term, netting 17 Premier League goals from just 20 starts.
Chelsea remain keen on Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and it is understood that either Torres or Demba Ba will be sold if the England international does arrive at Stamford Bridge, with Lukaku spot’s safe.
Despite facing the possibility of being of being Rooney’s understudy, Lukaku is more than capable of challenging last season’s first-choice Torres for a starting spot according to head-coach Mourinho.
Asked after the friendly in Kuala Lumpur whether Lukaku would be challenging the Spaniard come the start of the new Premier League campaign, Mourinho replied, “Of course”.
Physically imposing Lukaku has been compared with former Blues star Drogba but Mourinho was reluctant to pick similarities between the duo.
“We have to respect Didier because he is unique in Chelsea’s history, and we have to respect Lukaku,” the Portuguese told the Independent.
“The best way to do that is not compare him to a legend in Chelsea’s history. Leave Didier where he is, at the top of Chelsea’s history, and leave Lukaku to work hard. The kid is good.
“They [the team] are learning to play the way I want. Every manager has his own ideas. Lukaku had a fantastic manager last season but Steve [Clarke] is Steve, I am me, and West Brom is not Chelsea.
“It’s up to the kid, but he’s open and intelligent to learn the kind of movement we want. The role he played tonight was the right movement. We don’t want the striker just aiming between the central defenders, but making movements, sometimes between the midfield or moving wide.”
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