PROBLEM CHILD
Schmeichel accuses Pogba of ‘hiding’ in Arsenal match and dubs performance ‘really weird’
PETER SCHMEICHEL has launched a blistering attack on Paul Pogba, branding the Manchester United flop a “problem child”.
Pogba returned from injury for Monday’s 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal but failed to make an impact.
Doubts remain about the France midfielder’s future at United, with speculation mounting he will push for a move to Real Madrid in the January transfer window.
Old Trafford legend Schmeichel accused him of “hiding” against the Gunners.
“It was a really weird performance,” said the former United keeper.
“The way the ball is being moved around when Pogba is in the team is different to the pace the ball is being moved around when he’s not in the team. That is something I think they need to work on. If Pogba is playing he needs to speed it up.
“He was seriously slowing it down in the first 25 minutes, just basically playing the ball backwards. For a player of his calibre that was disappointing.
“I don’t understand what his role in this team is. Even when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made the substitutions and put Pogba further forward, not a lot happened.
“There were two very good passes in the game from Pogba, but it’s two, not 15.
“I see that as a problem. He takes up so much attention. It kind of feels like he’s a problem child in this team.” Schmeichel believes Pogba has become unpopular with fans, saying: “When you have someone who takes up so much attention, we need to understand what his role is. What is he going to do for this team?
“I think the players are good enough around him. He was kind of hiding a little bit in the first half. Second half was a little bit better.
“Of course when he gets moved further forward his defensive responsibilities are a bit less, then he gets the ball a bit more.
“He’s not playing in the same way he did last season for sure.
“It’s just all this slowing up, I think they need to find out what his role is.
“Then it should be communicated so that everyone [understands].
“The fans here are not too happy about him, to be fair.
“You kind of hear that around, people don’t like Pogba that much because he doesn’t do much for the team. “But we’ve seen the world-class quality. How do we get him to perform that way in this Manchester United team?”