Share

Mourinho will not pick Pogba, says Arsenal legend

The 53-year-old Portuguese was delighted by his side’s start to the season as goals from Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped them ease past Bournemouth.

Advertisement

However, at the pre match press conference, Mourinho further shared his thoughts on how he would be using Pogba in Firday night’s game, “He has adapted really easily because he knows the club, knows everybody”. You look immediately to the ones that score a lot of goals.

“Can Paul score Ronaldo and Messi’s goals?”. If to be the best player in the world means to score a lot of goals, that’s not the point.

That’s according to Paul Merson, who believes Paul Pogba will have to settle for a place on the bench at Old Trafford.

“I would say midfielder on the left [is my best position]”, he told Sky Sports.

“We had guys coming back from the Euros, who were on holidays, had one week of training and they played against Leicester (in the Community Shield), not at the top of their game, not ready for 90 minutes but they played and performed and it was a good way for them to accelerate that process”.

As well as Pogba, Mourinho has Chris Smalling back from suspension and more choices in midfield now that Jesse Lingard has recovered from the foot injury that kept him out of the Bournemouth game.

“I ask every day about his wife, kids, integration, house, everything is fine, everybody is happy”.

“The decision was made between the player, his entourage, his agent”.

“Chelsea did the same mistake with [Nemanja] Matic and a few years later I pushed the club to do the deal”.

While Pogba’s time may come against Saints, fellow high-profile summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been restricted to a pair of substitute appearances so far.

Advertisement

Mourinho added: “So, maybe it’s not an impact, maybe just a natural improvement of the team, because he’s a super football player”. Before me comes the team and what I think is best for the team. “If the fans feel that connection, they also want to play and if the fans play, there is no chance for the opponent”. The players they buy have to play all the time.

Claude Puel: Jose Fonte has not been affected by Manchester United rumours