Romelu Lukaku has revealed the influence three former Premier League strikers have had on his career.
The Manchester United forward has scored 104 league goals since arriving in England in 2011, equalling Didier Drogba’s overall mark – but reaching that tally in 30 fewer games than his former Chelsea teammate.
“But he has four Premier League [titles] and I have none,” Lukaku responded in a BBC interview when told of his better scoring rate compared to the Ivorian
The Belgian says Drogba, Thierry Henry – a Belgium assistant coach since 2016 – and Nicolas Anelka, another former teammate, have had a major impact on his development as a striker.
“We talk every day,” Lukaku said of Drogba. “He is part of the process. He has been part of the process since I came to the Premier League.
“Even though we haven’t been in the same dressing room for years, he is still part of the process.”
The 25-year-old added that Chelsea legend Drogba was in near constant contact during the World Cup, where Lukaku finished with four goals, tied for second on the scoring charts.
“At the World Cup, he was at the hotel almost all the time.
“Can you imagine at the hotel for the World Cup, where we were staying in Russia? I had Thierry there and Didier here and I had to sit here and take everything in: ‘You did this wrong and you did that wrong, but this you did OK…’
Lukaku says his desire to learn and follow in the trio’s footsteps makes him much more receptive to criticism.
Lukaku enjoys a close relationship with Henry – as well as Drogba and Anelka.
“They know I accept it because I really want to have the same career as they had.
“They can be as hard as they want, but I take it because I really want the same thing. Sometimes when I see Nico as well, those three are the guys when I grew up, they were like my everything.
“For me to have them sharing their experience with me, I take everything in.
“Even if they’re trying to knock me off, it’s no problem. Those guys, they have what I want and they tell me all the time ‘you are dangerous, because you are stronger than we were’ and I debate about pace with Thierry all the time!
“To be schooled by Thierry, Didier and Nico is the best thing that’s happened to me.”
