Manchester Evening News

If he wants to keep him

- By STEVEN RAILSTON

“We’re really pleased with his performanc­es and the way he’s developed as a player,” he said ahead of tonight’s clash. “It’s my job to focus on Serie A and the Europa League, it’s not up to me to decide what his future maybe when we reach the end of the season.”

Milan played in Serie A on Sunday but Pioli has since watched United’s derby day success at the Etihad and he was impressed with what he saw from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

“Very impressed indeed, it was a terrific victory against a fantastic City team on the back of 21 consecutiv­e victories,” he said.

“United deserved to win, they played with intensity and quality, we’ve looked at that game and learned from it.”

UNITED’S search for a football director is finally over.

John Murtough was yesterday announced in the role, with former Reds midfielder Darren Fletcher the club’s technical director.

Murtough, who joined the Reds in November 2013, will have the responsibi­lity of leading and overseeing operations across

United’s men’s and women’s teams, including the academy.

This will include heading up their transfer strategy, liaising with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer regarding recruitmen­t ‘to ensure that the first team has the best-in-class operations support it needs to succeed’.

Fletcher joined United’s first-team coaching staff in January, and the 37-year-old will offer ‘technical input and direction into all football and performanc­e areas’ as technical director.

Murtough will play a key role in United’s decisions in the transfer market going forward - here are three things he needs to address right this year...

POGBA’S FUTURE

UNITED were left in an uncomforta­ble position in December when Paul Pogba’s agent, Mino

Raiola, said his client’s Old Trafford career was ‘over’.

To Pogba’s credit, his performanc­es on the pitch since have improved. The 27-year-old’s deal expires next summer, though.

With contract negotiatio­ns yet to start over a new deal, and with several clubs interested in securing his signature, the midfielder’s future needs immediatel­y addressed.

 ??  ?? Diogo Dalot is on loan at Milan
Diogo Dalot is on loan at Milan
 ??  ?? Darren Fletcher was coaching United’s Under-16s last year
Darren Fletcher was coaching United’s Under-16s last year

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