Not long ago, I wrote a piece for The Sportsman saying if Javier Hernandez was to score on his return to Old Trafford as a West Ham player, the Mexican should celebrate instead of pretending to sympathise with the Manchester United fans who once sung his name.
It’s something I feel strongly about, so when Romelu Lukaku celebrated after scoring against Everton it came with a sense of relief. A player joins a new club, earns a hell of a lot of money (more than double his previous club paid him) and endured booing from fans that once upon a time saw him as their best player.
Ahead of kick-off, the game had been viewed as Lukaku versus Wayne Rooney, as both players would face their former club for the first time since their summer transfers. It was no surprise to hear Rooney’s name chanted by the home support after 13 years of service in which he became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
By contrast, Lukaku’s every touch was met with boos and every mistake celebrated. Having scored 87 goals in 166 appearances, some might say he deserved better, but if football fans can give it on the terraces for 90 minutes, why can’t they take it?
The Belgian not only scored at the end, but with 10-minutes to play he played through a perfectly weighted ball to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who slotted past Jordan Pickford with his first touch.
But back to the topic of conversation.
Scoring a goal should always be celebrated. It doesn’t exactly bother me when player’s don’t against their former clubs, but it’s not a big deal like some make it out to be.
Moreover, Lukaku’s didn’t jump up and down in front of the Everton fans kissing the United crest like Rooney used to do at Goodison Park. He simply cupped his ear as he ran past them.
Lukaku described it in his post-match interview as “banter” but he was entitled to give the Everton fans a taste of their own medicine.
Let’s cast our minds back to Danny Welbeck’s return to Old Trafford for the first time as an Arsenal player. A lifelong red whose name was applauded ahead of the FA Cup game in 2015, yet he scored the goal that knocked United out of the competition and celebrated to the delight of Arsenal fans.
Then there’s Robin van Persie, who after joining United, took just three minutes to score against his former club on their first meeting, yet respectfully refused to celebrate despite their fans jeering, whistling and chanting that he was a c*nt.
But the following season, Van Persie did celebrate after scoring against Arsenal. He was branded classless for doing so. Why? Some fans think they can have it both ways and are pathetically sensitive.
Of course, it’s not nice being a fan on the receiving end but it certainly makes up for it when your latest signing scores against the club you brought him from. This is part and parcel with being a football fan.
Lukaku won’t lose any sleep over the reaction that followed his celebration. He plays with a way bigger club than Everton and has so far proven he’s too big of a player for a team that currently sits in relegation. Maybe it’s time for Everton fans to question their current strike force or lack of since Lukaku left Goodison for Old Trafford.
Everyone knows who is laughing right now.
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