As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Everton striker Lukaku: I owe so much to West Brom boss Clarke

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku remains grateful to West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke.

Lukaku, on-loan at Everton from Chelsea, spent last season at the Hawthorns.

"I want to make defenders scared of me," he told the Telegraph. "I study them all. Van Persie has the best movement. He always finds a yard of space for himself. I love Rooney's all-round game, a great No 10, Jermain Defoe's finishing and then Drogba's hold-up play, which is still unmatched.

"Then there was Thierry Henry. He had complete authority on the pitch. When they saw him defenders said 'oh no'. Drogba had that as well, but Henry had a presence that meant the opposition defence was already killed before the game started, and yet off the pitch he was humble. I want to be the same.

"There was a changing point for me while I was at Chelsea. We lost in the League Cup in 2012 and I knew I would not play again all season. I was training with the reserves and I thought: 'Do you know what, next year I am going to make defenders afraid.'

"I was already tough, but I had to have more self-confidence. I knew the only way to get that was by playing and scoring goals. That's why I went to West Brom [on loan] last season. Steve Clarke changed my life, showing me how the game works. Without him I could not have gone to the next level. That was why I had to leave Chelsea."

 For breaking stories and all the great banter like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tribalfootball

Video of the day:

About the author

Tribal Football Staff

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free