Lukaku: Mourinho and I 'have a perfect relationship'

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has insisted his bond with manager Jose Mourinho is impeccable despite talk of a fraying relationship.

After only naming Lukaku as a substitute for the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea, Mourinho claimed it was the Belgian's own decision not to start the game after recovering from an ankle injury picked up at the end of April. The gaffer's comments led to the suggestion that all was not well between coach and player.

However, Lukaku says he was not selected by Mourinho because he wasn't up to scratch in training, and insisted he and the Portuguese actually enjoy an ideal working relationship.

"Of course I was (desperate to start the final), but I didn't look good in training at all," Lukaku said, per Sky Sports' Michael Hincks. "It was a difficult situation. Obviously, me and the manager had a conversation, he's the one that made the decision.

"Everybody is thinking me and the manager has a big issue or something, but it's not like that - me and the manager have a perfect relationship. We had a little chat after the game and everything is all clear."

Lukaku, who is currently training with Belgium ahead of next month's World Cup in Russia, will expect to remain United's first-choice striker next season after scoring 27 times in 51 appearances, breaking the 20-goal barrier for the fourth consecutive campaign.