YOU’VE BEEN POOR POGBA

Jose says £89M superstar must take responsibility for his own bad form

JOSE MOURINHO has told Paul Pogba to accept the blame for the slump in form that has cost him his Manchester United place.

Pogba, United’s record £89million signing, is facing a third straight game on the bench for today’s visit of Swansea following a dramatic loss of form.

Mourinho is known to be exasperated by Pogba’s lack of focus, believing the midfielder is more preoccupied with interests off the field than delivering for United on it.

Quizzed on Pogba’s predicament ahead of today’s game, Mourinho effectively said it was up to the 24-yearold to solve it as he had done all he could as his manager.

“Ask him,” said Mourinho. “Ask him when you get a chance when he thinks about it.”

Pushed on how he can get the best out of

Pogba and help the midfielder realise his potential, Mourinho was equally terse with his reply.

“I work,” said the United boss. “It’s the only thing I can do. I cannot do anything else.”

Mourinho (below) was even given the chance to put Pogba’s poor form down to the hamstring injury that sidelined him for six weeks earlier this season, but tellingly chose not to.

“It’s nothing to do with his injury,” said Mourinho, effectively throwing Pogba under the bus with regard to the player’s failure to perform. “His recovery was good, this season and

also last season. But I think he’s very fine after the injury. It was a difficult injury, it was an injury that other players, other clubs, other medical assessments – they end in surgery.

“His option – with the medical opinions – was not to go to the surgery table and his recovery was really, really good. So I think he is more than fine in relation to his recovery.”

Pogba rarely gives interviews, his response being “I do my talking on the pitch”, but he has been on mute on the field of play of late, which is why he has lost his place.

Despite the tension between Mourinho and Pogba, there is no appetite to offload the player this summer, with the United boss believing he can still get him back to his best.

To do that, Pogba must focus all his attention on football, rather than outside interests, including his huge social-media profile, and train with more intensity and purpose. Luke Shaw is another United player facing an uncertain future after Mourinho hauled him off at half-time during a 2-0 FA Cup win over Brighton a fortnight ago.

The former Southampton full-back is said to have questioned Mourinho over his perceived mistreatment but the United boss said he told the defender exactly why he was being hooked.

“He cannot ask me,” said Mourinho. “I told him. You’re saying he asked me why I changed him. That’s what you are saying.

“A report that Luke asked me why I changed him? I told him. He didn’t ask me the question because I told him.”

Asked if Shaw will be at United next season, Mourinho said: “I think so. But I always say the door is open for everyone so no problem for him, but I think so. He’s selected against Swansea.

He’s in the 18.”