Jose on Lucas: “He did everything for us during the season”

Jose Mourinho paid tribute to Lucas Moura after the Brazilian topped our appearance chart in 2019/20.

Lucas featured in 47 of our 52 matches in all competitions including 35 of 38 in the Premier League (25 starts) and starting five in the Champions League and FA Cup.

Playing in just about every forward position over the course of the season, he particularly impressed in a crucial hat-trick of wins against Arsenal, Newcastle and Leicester at the end of the campaign as we climbed to sixth.

Jose said: “With all the problems we had, Lucas is probably one of the few players that was here the day I arrived and never stopped, apart from some extreme fatigue he had because he was playing every match.

“He did everything for us during the season. He played in every position. He played as a striker when we had no strikers. He had no rest, he had to play every match in every competition.

“It’s really amazing and shows the team player that he is - a team player, a consistent player, a player who sacrifices himself for the needs of the team. We have more, and I’m a fortunate coach, but Lucas is a good example.”

Top five appearances, 2019/20

47 - Lucas (35 PL, 6 CL, 5 FAC, 1 LC)
42 - Toby Alderweireld, Serge Aurier
41 - Heung-Min Son, Harry Winks

Maximum 52 (38 PL, 8 CL, 5 FAC, 1 LC)