Jose Mourinho first burst onto the scene with his run down the touchline at Old Trafford as manager of Porto now, as manager of at the 'Theatre of Dreams,' he seems unmoved. He explained why he's stopped celebrating goals.
A week ago Jose Mourinho and Manchester United had nothing to celebrate. They were well beaten and second best in the Manchester derby, a result that left them 11 points behind rivals City.
Seven days later and the Red Devils have at least not lost further ground on Pep Guardiola's team but it hasn't been pretty as they've ground out wins against both Bournemouth and West Brom.
Jesse Lingard's goal gave United a 2-0 lead. Clearly Lukaku is happy to celebrate other people's goals. Image: PA Images.
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Probably the biggest positive for Mourinho has been the two goals scored by Romelu Lukaku. In the previous nine Premier League games the Belgian, who looked unstoppable at the beginning of the season, had scored once, now he has two in two.
However the former Everton frontman has been in the spotlight for not celebrating when he has scored and Mourinho defended his player by pointing out, and explaining, that he too is no longer celebrating goals, saying:
"I didn't celebrate too. Nobody was happier than me. Fifteen years ago I look at myself celebrating goals. With maturity you go into levels that you control your emotions better.
"You get more experienced, you get more balanced. You don't go crazy when you win. You don't get depressed when you lose. You are much more stable with experience. Some other managers, they are different, and they don't change.
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"I change. If I score a goal in the last minute you will see me run, for sure, for sure. But a goal in minute twenty-something, 1-0 with a lot to play... Let's play."
Lukaku rises to put United ahead. Image: PA Images.
A cynic might suggest that Mourinho talking about going over the top with celebrations coming a week after the incident in the tunnel at Old Trafford after last weekend's derby might be connected, but that's what a cynic would say.
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The former Real Madrid manager also had two theories for why Lukaku decided against celebrating, adding, "I think Lukaku didn't celebrate for two reasons. His love for West Bromwich Albion. He was a happy kid here, they help him to feel loved, they made him feel at home. It was here he exploded in the Premier League. So for sure that.
"And probably the second thing is he looks at me and I don't celebrate too. And he probably says: 'If he doesn't celebrate why should I celebrate?'"
It sounds like everyone can expect a lot more joyless goals at United this season.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Jose Mourinho, Manchester United, Goals, Premier League, Romelu Lukaku, West Brom