Paul Ince has praised the transformation of Romelu Lukaku from his Manchester United days after the Inter Milan striker scored twice to fire his side into the Europa League final.
Lukaku netted two second half goals that underlined his finishing prowess as the Serie A side strolled into Friday's final by hammering Shakhtar Donetsk 5-0 in Dusseldorf.
Having also scored in his tenth consecutive Europa League game, the former Manchester United striker is now on 33 goals for the season, putting him just one behind the record in a debut year at the San Siro set by the legendary Ronaldo.
Former United and Inter midfielder Ince believes the player's new found happiness has been key to his explosive form this campaign that he had struggled to show during much of his time at Old Trafford.
'He looks fit,' Ince claimed on BT Sport. 'At Manchester United he looked like he couldn't run around the park. He looks like a different animal. We know he can finish, but wow.'
'So many players come to England and they struggle. Lukaku didn't struggle but I just felt under [Jose] Mourinho he wasn't happy. The most important thing is if you're happy you'll fit in.'
Another former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes Lukaku was being weighed down during his time a Old Trafford and claims he has flourished playing alongside Lautaro Martinez who also struck twice in Monday night's victory.
'At 27 Lukaku looks like he's the perfect age,' Hargreaves added. 'What a pair Lukaku and Martinez are.'
'I think Lukaku got a raw deal at United. He almost played like he was carrying that burden but now he's in a place where he's playing at a really high level.'
'When you have a front two that explosive it takes a lot of pressure off the team.'
Lukaku admitted post-match that while he had an eye on setting personal records his main goal was to overcome a Sevilla side he believes are favourites to win Friday's final after knocking out his former United side on Sunday.
'The team's doing well, everybody's trying to do their best,' he said. 'Physically and tactically everybody is at 100 per cent.
'We knew that as long as we kept the centre of defence closed we wouldn't have any problems. Our physicality was too much for them.
'I think at the minute everything is going well. Records are nice to be broken but we need to win and Sevilla are the favourites.
real_ultras
538
Not just Lukaku but Young and Sanchez as well.
maycmoruz
528
I am stil happy that he left, he isn't the kind of striker that fits our style. And am also happy that he has fit in in Conte's Inter Milan, Ole's style needs a sharp striker like Lewy or Lautaro. Those saying United got it wrong when they sold Rom, are the ones who got it wrong as they don't know a thing about football. Not evry player can play good at evry club, Lukaku can't fit Barca's style of play but Lautaro can. Am content at the way Ole has been recruiting n exodassing since the day he came in. His rebuild is more clearer than all the managers that came in since SAF's departure. Some haters knows exactly what am saying, coz the results are the ones that speaks volume. e.g (1 ) we have beaten Man City three times in a single season and that includes a double in the league (2) We have also done it three times to Chelsea and that includes a double in the league too, but more importantly is that we finished third and we are playing free flowing football
Nesaiknruy_Legend
512
Yes its normal to look good when the manager is someone who knows what they're doing. Do you think if Conte was manager of United and he saw Martial struggling against Kounde and Carlos he would leave Martial at striker? Half time Ighalo would be subbed in for Rashford and Martial shifted left and then you have an actual 9 that can deal with 2 centre half playing while Martial can cut in. It's not even hard even someone who's never managed in football like me can see that why cant Ole? cos hes tactically inept. Never put Conte's working progress in the same bracket as Oles lol.
Tazbdimpsy
290
Lukaku was happy under Mourinho. He had maximum game time. He requested to leave when he was not happy under Ole.
Cowcprsu
220
Did Ince really mention Jose and not Ole, these so call former players, now pundits are full of it. Lukaku was sideline and brushed aside by Ole. Guess if Jose is not in the article then it is not of substance.
Tuzbdnr
182
Lukaku was best than all united front line, it just because he is the first choice of Jose every one criticize him.
rutabdpz
136
lukaku play very well at his first season at man united and in good terms with Jose ..the problem is at man united if the team is not playing well the blame and critics is only for the foreign players...