OLE: POG STILL HAS THE HUNGER TO PLAY FOR UNITED
PAUL Pogba will be considered for selection from the start for United in the derby today, despite his agent outlining his intention to transfer the midfielder next month.
Mino Raiola claimed the Frenchman was ‘unhappy’ in an interview with Turin-based outlet Tuttosport on Monday and ‘the best solution for all concerned is if he (Pogba) moves in the next window’.
The 27-year-old is about to enter the last 18 months of his United contract and has no intention of extending it amid interest from Real Madrid and former club Juventus.
Pogba was dropped for the Champions League defeat by RB Leipzig on Tuesday but came on in the second half and contributed to their second goal as they threatened to mount another comeback.
Despite wanting out of United for upwards of two years, Pogba’s professionalism has been praised by behind-the-scenes sources at the club and he remains highly regarded by team-mates.
Solskjaer compared
Pogba’s attitude with that of unnamed players who had refused to train during their time at United.
“I think I said during the week that this is a team game and Paul is part of this team,” Solskjaer said ahead of today’s clash at Old Trafford.
“He’s very focused on contributing when he’s here.
“He’s got the hunger and appetite to play and wants to play. He wants to train and he trains.
“There have been other players refusing to train and refusing to play – they’re not here anymore of course – but Paul’s not once done that. He’s just focused on performing when he gets a chance.
“That’s the good thing about Paul. He’s got the quality and the desire to do well when he comes on, like he did against Leipzig.
“He had a positive impact. The short answer is he’s part of the squad for the derby.”
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Lukaku trained with former club Anderlecht in Brussels and United also disciplined the In Inter striker for uploading training data onto Twitter on the eve of their August friendly with AC Milan in Cardiff.
United have conceded first in 10 of their 18 matches this season but have come from behind to win all five of their away games in the league.
All three of their wins over City last season came after they scored first and Solskjaer says they need to regain that habit today.
“Start quickly is one thing but start good [is another],” Solskjaer added.
“You can start quickly. We want to get on the front foot straightaway. Goals do impact games and when you get the first goal in a game it’s easier, of course it is. That’s something we want to get to in this game.
“We’ve done well against City in the last few games against them early on. Then again, it’s a 90minute game but, we want to get off to a good start.
“There are loads of things we can do better, we can defend better from the front. We scored quite a few goals in those 10 games as well, that’s in the nature of Man United over the years, that there have been many, many goals.
“We want to defend maybe higher up, we got pegged back in midweek (against Leipzig) and they scored from some crosses, which was disappointing.”
Solskjaer has worked to change the culture within the United dressing room since succeeding
Jose Mourinho in December 2018, when the 1999 Treble hero made a shock return to his former club initially as caretaker boss.
Handed the reins on a permanent basis the following March, things have rarely stayed smooth for long and the Norwegian is under pressure once again following United’s Champions League exit.
“There’s always pressure on you when you manage Man United,” Solskjaer added.
“That’s something I had to think about when I accepted the role.
“Do I have what it takes to be in such a situation? Can you handle setbacks? Can you handle success?
“And I think I can. I think I can in a good way.
“I’ve got great staff around me, fantastic staff, that I use as sparring partners for discussions, even the conversation with the club it goes on all the time.”