“That’s what I’m saying, I need September because the relation can be good, the players can be good professionals, they can feel I trust all of them, but when a player doesn’t play one, two, three games, the frustration comes and it is hard to play well”, he explained.
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Asked what instructions he had given Pogba, Mourinho replied simply: “Play”.
“I was relaxed, no nerves, I played my game”.
“We must believe we have a chance – and we certainly have”. Emerson. It was a monster team with so many great players.
However, under Mourinho Fellaini has flourished, and the Portuguese manager has picked the player in each of his three starting line-ups so far.
Pogba, 23, became the most expensive footballer of all time when moving to United from Serie A champions Juventus for £93.8m earlier this month.
“I’m not anxious with an “impact” and I don’t think he’s anxious with that”.
“His first match, his first touch was a bad one and led to a counter-attack and a free-kick and an opportunity for the opponent but he was not affected”. He’s so comfortable in the skin of a star, so confident, the way he plays.
Despite the promising start to the era of new coach Jose Mourinho, Ibrahimovic insisted that United remain a work in progress.
“Maybe a simple phone call can make a difference”, said Mourinho.
“A player that was feeling he was not loved”. Everyone was saying he wasn’t for me. “What pleases me more is not just the guys but the others who are coming to a different level, the way Valencia’s playing, Blind, Marouane and I could give you other examples”.
“The team has done well and I think we can do much more but this was just our second game in the Premier League and a lot of things are new”. He’s playing well, with [Michael] Carrick, with [Ander] Herrera, with Paul [Pogba]. I am very happy, there are obvious things he has to improve.
“Last 10 minutes 2-0, now more discipline, more tactical organisation”.
Puel has introduced a new system featuring a diamond midfield, but he downplayed the significance of the tactical change.
“You can see in the post-match interview with [Paul] Pogba, they’re having a laugh and the spirit is there and you don’t win anything without team spirit”.
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“If you’re going to win the league you need someone who’s going to score goals, and he might be the one to provide the goals”. “That is not important, the important thing is to win”, said Ibrahimovic.
