JOSE’S POG FIGHT WILL DAMAGE REDS
Ince warns United’s future is in jeopardy unless Mourinho and his £89M superstar can get back to this
PAUL POGBA and Jose Mourinho must settle their differences if Manchester United are to prosper, according to former midfield star Paul Ince.
Record buy Pogba and boss Mourinho have been at loggerheads in recent weeks but former England and Old Trafford captain Ince says the French midfielder is crucial to revitalising the team.
United will try to stop their neighbours City winning the Premier League in record time when they clash in tomorrow’s Manchester derby.
And Ince (above) said: “I hope Pogba stays because you’ve got to have a him in there if you want to compete with the Man Citys and the Liverpools. If you lose Pogba then who else is out there? They’ve got to sit down together, talk it through, and get it sorted.”
Pogba was benched ( far right) for the two legs of the Champions League clash with Sevilla, a sign that Mourinho doesn’t trust him.
But Ince said: “Jose does love a row. Players have so much power these days that they can get managers sacked but the good thing about Jose is that he’s got the power in the same way Sir Alex Ferguson had the power. You don’t mess with Jose. He makes the decisions and the board will back him.
“But, by the same token, Pogba has to play week in and week out. If I’m the owner then I’m saying: ‘Hang on, I’ve spent £89million on a player who is sitting on the bench.’” Ince believes Mourinho (far right, with Pogba) wants to rebuild the squad at Old Trafford and return to the United tradition of winning with flair as in the glory days of Ferguson.
Former United midfielder Ince said: “I’ve spoken to some Man United fans and they’ve been going to watch Man City because they are so entertaining. I’m thinking: ‘Are you mad?’
“It’s something Mourinho knows and I’m sure he can do it. I feel sure he’s the right man for the job. He’s a winner, a serial winner.
“For Mourinho it’s about the winning, about the titles, but that’s not the case for Man United. The fans have been brought up on a style of football. Under Mourinho United have won trophies but there’s frustration there and fans are saying the same thing.
“They want more entertainment. There are not enough shots on goal and it’s hardly attack after attack.
“It’s about finding the right balance and that is where United are behind City, Tottenham, and Liverpool. They’ve all got a balance to their team. “By the end of the season Jose will have found the best position for Alexis Sanchez, where Pogba plays, and the best position for Marcus Rashford. “If they get that balance then they’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Man United have to be up there competing with City and Liverpool. They are second in the table and that shows how great Jose is. They are almost in a transition period and yet they are still up there.”