Don’t let all that talent go to waste, says Souness
GRAEME Souness believes it would be a ‘crime’ if Paul Pogba does not go on to achieve greater things with United after his two-goal derby display.
Pogba endured a forlorn firsthalf at the Etihad, where City took a 2-0 lead, but scored twice within 10 minutes of the restart to spark an unforgettable comeback as United clinched a 3-2 victory to delay their neighbours’ title triumph.
Souness has been an outspoken critic of Pogba since he returned to United in August 2016 and last season opined United had their ‘pants pulled down’ by Juventus over Pogba’s £89m transfer fee and felt it was a ‘bonus’ Pogba was banned for the reverse derby fixture in December.
The Liverpool legend was more complimentary about the Frenchman in his analysis of United’s win but suggested Pogba struggles to interpret manager Jose Mourinho’s instructions.
“His two goals have created an opportunity for United to win this game,” Souness said. “When you hear Pogba speak there he comes across as an honest young man who loves football.
“I believe that when the manager, when Mourinho is speaking to him, the message isn’t getting through, because when you have that much raw talent, it’d be a crime for Jose, it’d be a crime for Man United and the boy himself not to go on achieve great things in our game because he’s got all the raw talents to be a fabulous player.” PAUL Pogba has revealed how Michael Carrick encouraged him to ‘kill games’ after his attacking performance in United’s derby win.
The 25-year-old ran the show for the Reds as they battled from behind for a 3-2 comeback victory.
Pogba finished two slick attacking moves with emphatic finishes to draw his side level, before Chris Smalling volleyed in the eventual winner. For his second Pogba made a brilliant run from deep as he headed in a crucial equaliser to send the travelling supporters into raptures.
And speaking after the match, the French international revealed how his attacking display was inspired by Carrick’s mentoring away from the pitch.
“Michael Carrick showed me a video, it helped me a lot with this [equalising goal],” Pogba told Sky Sports after the match.
“Every time after training or every time after a game, he talks to me he comes and he says do it this way.
“He says ‘You can kill, you can kill,’ because nobody can stop you.
“It’s hard to make this run when you play in a two because you have to stay, when we have three I can go forward.
“I know [City] like to attack so we had to get forward.
“I know when he [Sanchez] has the ball he likes to play, I saw the space and I just went. Luckily I was there.”
Pogba said it would have felt ‘like death’ had City sealed the title with a home derby win.
Even for a player used to being in the spotlight, the scrutiny must have felt intense in the lead up to Saturday evening’s eagerly-anticipated Etihad Stadium encounter.
City manager Pep Guardiola claimed on the eve of the game that Pogba was offered to the Premier League leaders by his agent in January – a claim denied by Mino Raiola. The midfielder posted ‘say what?’ on social media soon after the City manager’s comments were published and then before kick-off was criticised by United great Gary Neville after turning up with a “ridiculous” blue hairstyle. Pogba’s first-half performance did little to quieten the critics, but his display after the break did as he hit a quickfire double to set United on course for a memorable 3-2 comeback win that stopped City sealing the title. “To be honest, I didn’t want to lose against City,” the midfielder said. “Last year, I still have it in my mind. “Played at City, if they win they are champions against Manchester United. For all the fans it would be like death. “To lose against Manchester City and to see them celebrate in their own stadium, I couldn’t let this happen, to be honest. “I mean at half-time when we are in the dressing room we said, ‘We have nothing to lose, let’s go, please keep believing, let’s make it.’” Paul Pogba