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Jose Mourinho: 'Romelu Lukaku, Didier Drogba comparisons not helpful'

Mourinho: 'Lukaku, Drogba comparisons not helpful'
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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists that Romelu Lukaku is ready to play first-team football at Stamford Bridge next season.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has declared that Romelu Lukaku has the work ethic to match his talent, but implored fans not to draw premature comparisons with Didier Drogba.

Lukaku was on target for the Blues in yesterday's 4-1 win over a Malaysia XI, underlining his credentials for a starting spot with a composed finish from close range.

Mourinho told The Guardian: "Lukaku had a fantastic manager last season but Steve [Clarke] is Steve, I am me and West Bromwich Albion is not Chelsea.

"It's up to the kid but he's open and intelligent to learn the kind of movement we want. The role he played tonight was the right movement. We don't want the striker just aiming between the central defenders but making movements, sometimes between the midfield or moving wide.

"People compare him to Didier Drogba but we have to respect Didier, because he is unique in Chelsea's history, and we have to respect Lukaku. The best way to do that is not compare him to a legend in Chelsea's history. Leave Didier where he is, at the top of Chelsea's history, and leave Lukaku to work hard. The kid is good."

The 20-year-old scored 17 goals for West Bromwich Albion last season in a successful loan spell at The Hawthorns.

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Liam Power
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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Didier Drogba embrace after winning the League Cup on February 25, 2007
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