Young striker will benefit from first-team football, says Mourinho.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has defended his decision to send promising young striker Romelu Lukaku on loan to Everton for the season, according to talkSPORT.
The supremely-talented 20-year-old really caught the eye on loan at West Brom last season, scoring 17 goals in the Premier League, and it was thought that with Chelsea’s problems upfront, he might be first choice at Stamford Bridge this season.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the likes of misfiring pair Fernando Torres and Demba Ba have been kept at the club, while veteran striker Samuel Eto’o has also been brought in on a short-term deal.
This has seen Lukaku drop down the pecking order once more, and he will hope to put himself in Mourinho’s mind by playing well for his new club, though this move has seen the Portuguese coach come in for some criticism, particularly with results not currently going Chelsea’s way.
Mourinho, though, feels that time away from the club on loan is what is currently best for Lukaku, who he feels needs to be playing regularly at this age, which would not have been a guarantee if he’d remained with the west London team.
“I think it’s good for Lukaku and for Chelsea if he plays every game at Everton,” he said.