Jose on Lamela: "I like him a lot"

Erik Lamela has made a positive early impression on Jose Mourinho.

Jose was impressed when Erik made himself available after a lengthy injury absence for our Boxing Day clash against Brighton.

The all-action attacking midfielder missed 12 games between October-December. Since returning to action, he’s appeared off the bench against Norwich, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Liverpool and shone in his first start under Jose in Tuesday night’s FA Cup third round replay victory against Middlesbrough.

Erik and fellow Argentine Giovani Lo Celso were instrumental in the win. Gio opened the scoring inside two minutes, Erik added a slick second after 15 and at 2-0, we were well on the way to the fourth round. We could have been out of sight by half-time but Boro rallied in the second half, got a goal back on 83 minutes and pushed all the way. We now travel to Southampton in round four on Saturday 25 January.

On Lamela, Jose said: “I like him a lot, since the moment when he was training just for two days and he told me he would help the team as best as he could before the Brighton game.

“I felt that the boy was really up to it, quality plus attitude. I knew that he was very important for us. We just hope he doesn’t have any more problems and he can develop from now.

“Giovani was very, very good, Eriksen was good and these three players stamped the game with great intensity and great quality behind Lucas. We started very, very well and for an hour, we were very strong.”

Jose spoke further about Erik and Gio’s performance in his post-match press conference. “Lamela was out for so long, he was coming step by step, 10 minutes one game, 20, half an hour against Liverpool and 90 minutes today. I took him to the limits but he’s coming.

“Gio again, step by step. He was so, so good against Liverpool and so, so good again today, adapting to the reality of English football and this intensity. I am happy with the boys and obviously happy that we go to the fourth round.”