Here is what Lukaku told Rashford before deciding the penalty. Many expected Lukaku to take the important spot-kick considering he had scored United’s first two goals in the 3-1 win at PSG, but it was Rashford who slotted home the penalty – the first in his professional career.
With Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford being seen chatting before the latter converted a 93rd-minute penalty to knock Paris Saint-Germain out of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, the Belgian has now reportedly revealed what was said.
Lukaku later explained that he was happy for Rashford to step up, and revealed what he told the Englishman before the 93rd-minute penalty.
“I was happy that he scored. He came to me and wanted to shoot,” the Belgian told beIN SPORTS. “I said ‘Man, this is your time. Do it for yourself and us.’
“I like it more because Marcus and I, we are dynamic, we have a lot of running in us and we score goals. “It has been nice to play him. When we played against Southampton, he made it so much easier for me and I scored two goals.”
United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also explained that he left the decision up to his players, but was not sure 21-year-old Rashford would score given the immense pressure.
“Fearless, the kid is. He’s got no doubts, no fear. And when you’re young, you don’t have any fear,” the Norwegian said, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.
“Of course, I wasn’t sure we’d score, I’ve been in the Champions League before with Molde and we played Basel and we got a pen in the last minute to go through and we missed it. So, of course, that went through my mind.
“But Rashy and Rom were on penalties today, it was up to them to fight, and Rashy slotted it, brilliant.”The late penalty saw United advance via the away goals rule, with the tie ending 3-3 following the Red Devils’ 3-1 win at the Parc des Princes. As a consequence, the Manchester club became the first side ever to overturn a two-goal home defeat in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie to progress to the next round.
Source: SoccerLaduma
