Mourinho ‘calm’ over Rooney as Lukaku shines

Source:AFP-Global Times Published: 2013-7-26 23:38:01

Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho Photo: IC

Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho Photo: IC


 Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho said he was "calm" over his high-stakes bid for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney after the emerging star Romelu Lukaku burnished his growing reputation with another two goals in Jakarta.

Mourinho indicated there had been no new offers for Rooney after Manchester United rejected the initial bid. But he also said Chelsea were sticking by their decision not to target any other players.

"No," said Mourinho, after Chelsea's 8-1 hammering of Indonesia All-Stars late on Thursday, when being asked if there had changes on the transfer situation.

"The bid was public and ­official, after that there's ­nothing else and we are calm as we told you. We are happy with what we have."

The Portuguese manager has much riding on the Rooney bid with ­Chelsea looking at no other ­players after the signings of German forward Andre Schurrle, 22, Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel, 20, and veteran Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, 40.

But he has also been boosted by the return from loan spells ­of the 22-­year-old ­Belgian attacking midfielder Kevin de ­­Bruyne - ­currently ­nurs­ing­ a knee injury - and power­ful striker Lukaku, who has bagged four goals on Chelsea's three-game Asian tour.

Lukaku, who struck the winner from the penalty­­ spot in Bangkok, Thailand, and was also on target in Kuala Lumpur, added a close-range header and side-footed ­finish on Thursday to press his claims for regular first team soccer next season.

Mourinho said 50 million pounds ($77 million) Spanish striker Fernando ­Torres should be pleased to have ­competition for a ­starting spot from the ­imposing ­Lukaku­, even without­ Rooney in the squad.

"I think Fernando should be happy because we have ­competition in the team and I think it's good for everybody in every position," he said.

"For some time at ­Chelsea Fernando was basically a ­young striker, after that it was Demba Ba who arrived in ­January, and now we have three strikers."

He added that the veteran ­Eng­lish midfielder Frank Lampard would resume training next week after a heel injury as Chelsea head for four more pre-season games in the United States.

Chelsea won the ­Premier League twice during the ­Portuguese manager's first spell in ­charge and they are seen as a ­serious threat to title-holders ­Manchester United and 2012 winners Manchester City, who are both blooding new ­managers.

And Mourinho hopes to steal a march on the Red Devil by racking up a three-point lead before they meet on August 24, after scheduling arrangements handed Chelsea a home game at the start of the season to the champions' one away match against Swansea.

"I'm never too worried with the fixtures," Mourinho said.

"We just start against Hull City, after that comes ­Manchester United. We'll see what happens."


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