Manchester United captain Michael Carrick warns Romelu Lukaku of 'massive jump' in pressure from Everton after fluffing his first lines

  • Michael Carrick can empathise with Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku
  • United captain moved to Old Trafford from Tottenham in the summer of 2006 
  • Carrick has told Lukaku the pressure is a significant step up from Everton
  • United play their second tour game against Real Salt Lake on Tuesday morning

After the Hollywood style introduction in Los Angeles, Romelu Lukaku's debut for Manchester United did not go quite according to the script as the new £75million signing misfired in the opening game on tour.

Lukaku's failure to convert an easy chance just four minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute was all the more awkward because the man he replaced, Marcus Rashford, had scored twice in the opening 20 minutes against LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center.

Afterwards, United's new captain Michael Carrick warned that Lukaku will discover that the pressure of playing for United is a significant step up from what the Belgium striker has experienced at Everton and West Brom.

Manchester United captain Michael Carrick is aware of the jump up in pressure at the club

Manchester United captain Michael Carrick is aware of the jump up in pressure at the club

Manchester United new boy Romelu Lukaku failed to score on debut against LA Galaxy

United new boy Romelu Lukaku, signed from Everton, didn't score on debut against LA Galaxy

After 11 years at Old Trafford, Carrick knows that only too well after stepping into Roy Keane's shoes and inheriting the Irishman's No.16 shirt when he arrived from Tottenham in 2006.


In Lukaku's case, he has taken on the No.9 from Zlatan Ibrahimovic who hit 28 goals in all competitions for United last season.

'It's a massive jump up,' said Carrick.

'I found that myself coming from Tottenham. You can't really explain to people until they've gone through it and I'm sure he'll find the same.

Carrick captained the side as United recorded a convincing 5-2 win over LA Galaxy on Sunday

Carrick captained the side as United recorded a convincing 5-2 win over LA Galaxy on Sunday

Carrick expects the scrutiny to be different to anything Lukaku has previously been use to

Carrick expects the scrutiny to be different to anything Lukaku has previously been use to

'But having Premier League experience is a massive bonus. He'll know how things work week to week. It's just about dealing with the pressure.

'Ibra was terrific for us but Rom is his own man.

'When I came it was Roy Keane who came up but I'm my own man. Whoever comes in, you're always your own man.

'I don't want to compare them at all because it's not fair to do that. He'll be judged like anyone else on what he does through the season and I'm sure he's ready for that.

'The scrutiny and everything will go up a level from what he's used to. I'm sure he's prepared for that and I'm sure he will do well.' 

Lukaku's big chance arrived in the 49th minute. Paul Pogba has been instrumental in his close friend's move to United, and it was his interception and pass that set up Lukaku for a simple finish from eight yards.

Lukaku missed two opportunities to register his first goal for the club in the pre-season friendly

Lukaku missed two opportunities to register his first goal for the club in the pre-season friendly

Marcus Rashford scored a well-taken brace as United beat their MLS opponents 5-2 in Carson

Marcus Rashford scored a well-taken brace as United beat their MLS opponents 5-2 in Carson

It was the sort of opportunity Lukaku should be converting with his eyes closed, but Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe produced an excellent save to claw the ball away.

Another effort was scuffed wide on what was an underwhelming debut.

'It's early days,' added Carrick. 'It's one week's training and 45 minutes, so you can't come to any conclusions.

'We know what he's all about, there's no surprises. We all know exactly what he brings, that's why he's here.

'He's not going to change his game because he's come here. He does what he does best and obviously he's been brought here to score goals. I'm pretty certain he will do that this season.' Jose Mourinho was also quick to defend his new signing after Lukaku was upstaged by Rashford.

Marouane Fellaini, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial scored United's other goals in a comfortable win as Mourinho changed his entire line-up at half-time.

'He didn't score goals, but he played better than the ones who did score goals,' said the United boss.

United boss Jose Mourinho was pleased with Lukaku's performance despite his lack of goals

United boss Jose Mourinho was pleased with Lukaku's performance despite his lack of goals

David Beckham was in the crowd to watch United beat LA Galaxy 5-2 at the StubHub Center

'A good thing for me today is he's a team player and was not worried about himself. He was worried about the improvement of the team.' United were five goals up before a late fightback from the Galaxy exposed their other debutant Victor Lindelof.

The £31million centre-back from Benfica was beaten when Giovani dos Santos cut inside to fire past Joel Pereira, and then failed to get off the ground when Dave Romney rose to meet a corner and Dos Santos touched home from close range.

Afterwards, Mourinho dismissed any possibility of bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.

The Portugal star's future at Real Madrid has been thrown into doubt over allegations that he has evaded paying £12.9m in tax.

Mourinho coached Ronaldo at the Bernabeu for three years and the two men share the same agent, Jorge Mendes. But he believes that prising the current World Player of the Year away from Madrid is beyond United's capabilities.

'I'm not going to waste my time thinking about players who are mission impossible,' said Mourinho.

'We have never thought about it because he is such an important player for his club, of great economic power. We have not been able to find for whatever reason that could have made us think Ronaldo could leave.' 

United play their second game on tour against Real Salt Lake in the early hours of Tuesday morning.