Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar reveals what Romelu Lukaku said to him after Manchester United’s win

Romelu Lukaku had a quiet game for Manchester United in the side’s 1-0 defeat of Benfica but produced a moment of utter class after the final whistle.

Benfica starlet Mile Svilar was making his Champions League debut and became the competition’s youngest goalkeeper at 18 years and 52 days when he took to the field in Lisbon on Wednesday night.

However, Svilar’s evening was ruined in the 64th minute of the clash as Marcus Rashford spotted the youngster off his line and had a shot at goal with a long-range free-kick. The teenage shot-stopper caught the ball but managed to carry it over his own line and referee Felix Zwayer awarded the goal to put the Red Devils 1-0 in front at the Estadio da Luz.

After the match, Lukaku and several United players consoled Svilar, who broke Iker Casillas’ record to become the youngest goalkeeper to start a Champions League game.

Svilar was in tears after his mistake cost Benfica. (Reuters)

Svilar looked distraught at the final whistle and a number of his Benfica team-mates gathered around to console him. But it was Lukaku’s kind gesture towards his fellow Belgian which a number of United and Benfica fans spotted as he took time to calm down the ‘keeper.

The goalkeeper has now revealed that he was given words of encouragement from Romelu Lukaku after his error gifted Manchester United a 1-0 win in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

‘Yeah, it was nice,’ Svilar said after the game. ‘He just said that I don’t have to worry, continue to work and it will be okay.’

David De Gea also approached the 18-year-old goalkeeper. (Reuters) 

Asked about Svilar’s blunder after the match, Nemanja Matic told BT Sport: ‘This is football and I know he’s a great ‘keeper. He’s the future of Benfica for sure.’