Romelu Lukaku Says He Deserves 'More Respect' for Goal Record After Chelsea Win

Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku has said he deserves "more respect" following his match-winning performance against Chelsea on Sunday. 

The striker grabbed a goal and an assist for the Red Devils in the 2-1 victory, turning in his best display for the club since his summer move from Everton.

It was an important showing from Lukaku given the Belgium international has previously struggled in matches against the best teams in the division. Although the man himself has insisted some of the criticism he's received has been a little unfair, per Rory O'Callaghan of Sky Sports:

"I started playing when I was 16. Year in, year out people expect 20 goals from me. I've been doing it for 10 years straight, so I think I've proved myself.

"You expect a bit more respect but it's the situation we're in. I don't listen to it. I just want to improve and show the people what I can do on the pitch."

OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

Lukaku joined the Red Devils from the Toffees ahead of the campaign in a £75 million deal and has had an interesting first season at Old Trafford.

As the player noted, his goalscoring record is difficult to argue with, as the 24-year-old has been among the most prolific forwards in the Premier League in recent seasons. This term he's already netted 13 times in the top flight.

However, as noted by Adam Jones of the Liverpool Echo, there are other facets of his game that make the Belgian one of the division's best at full throttle:

The match against Chelsea showed what Lukaku is capable of when he's on his game, as he was a force of nature up top for the Red Devils.

His work with his back to goal can still be a little erratic, but with space to burst into he can be unstoppable. He boasts pace, power and composure in dangerous areas. In addition to his goalscoring, Lukaku's creativity in the final third is an area of his game that is often overlooked.

What has been his big issue is showcasing the whole package consistently. As noted by Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News, the Chelsea game felt like a foundation from which the United No. 9 can push on from:

"

Sensational from Lukaku. Today could be a coming of age performance for him. Tremendous resilience. #mufc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) February 25, 2018"

Ahead of the showdown against the Blues, Lukaku's record in these matches left much to be desired, as the BBC Match of the Day Twitter account relayed:

As the main centre-forward for one of the biggest clubs in world football, there will always be a major amount of attention on Lukaku. And that means the flaws he has in his game will be meticulously analysed.

This season they have been, and while there have been times when the striker has struggled with the weight of expectation, in the main he's dealt with the pressure well.

Encouragingly for those who frequent Old Trafford, Lukaku appears to be hitting form at the most important point of the campaign.