This red-card stamp sparked Pogba slump
MOURINHO INSISTS THIS WAS THE MOMENT HIS £89M STAR LOST FORM BUT HE BACKS HIM TO FIND IT AGAIN TONIGHT
JOSE MOURINHO has blamed Paul Pogba’s red card at Arsenal for his loss in form.
The Manchester United boss claims Pogba’s dismissal for his stamp on Hector Bellerin in the win at the Emirates in early December triggered the midfielder’s problems at Old Trafford.
Since serving a three-match suspension, Pogba has been dropped once and substituted twice, as he struggles for form. But Mourinho dismissed claims the pair have fallen out, or that he is playing the record signing in the wrong position. The Portuguese also cited Pogba’s hamstring injury, which ruled him out for 12 games, as another reason for his problems, but believes he can play his way back into form and will start him this evening at Huddersfield.
“He had a big injury, a big injury,” said the United boss. “He almost went for surgery, like Ousmane Dembele in Barcelona, who had a similar injury.
“He was playing phenomenal after that and before that. Then he had a red card against Arsenal, probably in his best match and the team’s best moment. He was out for a long, long time and, in this moment, he is not playing well, period. And the team needs him at a good level.
“When he is not at a good level, the team is not as good. It happens with every team when the most crucial players are not performing.”
It is claimed Pogba feels Mourinho is compounding his problems by making him play in a deeper midfield role.
But the manager, who substituted Pogba immediately after Newcastle’s winner last week, said: “I would like you to tell me which position Pogba played in against Newcastle. Anyone want to tell me? OK, midfield, but did we play with one No.6 and two No.8s? Or two No.6s and one No.10? We played with one 6 and two 8s. We played with Matic as a 6, Lingard on the right side of Matic, and Pogba on the left side.
“Do you know which is Pogba’s preferred system? Four-threethree. Do you know Pogba’s favourite position in a 4-3-3? Eight on the left, so it’s easy and honest and objective to say Paul didn’t play well against Newcastle, but don’t let people read things that are not true.
“You are paid to read the game and explain the game. Don’t say bulls**t.”
This is a defining week in United’s season and also includes a Champions League clash with Sevilla, and a league showdown with Chelsea next weekend.
“Yes, but let’s go step by step,” added Mourinho. “Saturday at 7.30pm, we are out of the FA Cup or in the quarter-final. Saturday is black and white. It is not grey.”