Manchester United legend Paul Scholes claims that record signing Paul Pogba is trying too hard to impress at Old Trafford and failing to do the simple tasks.
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United paid an eye-watering 105million euros (£89million) to bring back a player who left them four years earlier in search of first-team football, with a further five million euros (£4.25million) due if certain targets are met.
“The world-record player is always a question that will be open until somebody breaks the record”, Mourinho said, in comments published by British newspapers on Saturday. I think there are clubs who paid £20m, £30m, £40m and that is a bigger deal than what Man United have paid for Paul.
“I just want Paul to forget that and to play his football”.
The two-time Chelsea manager added: “He had no pre-season and played in the Euro 2016 final”.
“I know he’s happy with his four players [signed in the transfer window] but I still think they need that type of player”.
Carragher said: “He can’t be criticised too heavily at this point – Christmas will be when we can fairly judge Pogba – and we cannot underestimate what a good signing he is for the Premier League as a whole; I was delighted he came here rather than going to Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. As the team improves, form improves”.
Pogba will once again be in the spotlight when United travel to Vicarage Road to take on Watford in the Premier League.
United slumped to a 0-1 defeat in their Europa opener against Dutch side Feyenoord on Thursday – quick on the heels of the derby defeat at home against Manchester City, the situation has not helped cover up for Pogba’s form as well. “I think Mourinho will find the right partners for him”.
United this week reported a club-record £515.3m revenue for the last financial year, and the Portuguese suggested such financial muscle makes other clubs paying £40m for a player more surprising.
“I don’t really know what position he’s playing at the minute”.
Defeat at Watford on Sunday would mark club’s worst run since last December but Herrera said: “Mourinho is ideal for this club”. “I think it will come, it’s still early days”.
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“He [Pogba] needs a controlling midfield player next to him”, said Scholes on BT Sport. “It should belong to them and that is what I expect from them – that on Sunday we will try to win the match normal”.
