Credit boss for dealing with agent headache

WHEN his agent did what he did after going out in Europe, it was a blow too far. The agent always seems to pop up when something goes bad for United, or when the club is at its lowest ebb in a season. It’s just not acceptable. But I have to say, Paul Pogba doesn’t — he isn’t saying that he wants to leave the club.

I must admit, the way we as pundits handled the Pogba situation with [his agent Mino] Raiola a few weeks ago was emotion because we see i t from t he outside. The way Ole handled the Raiola comments was masterful, really.

He knew he was going to have Pogba at least until the end of the season, so he poured cold water over it and he’s now got him performing. He handled that situation really well. Ole deserves real credit for how he’s dealt with Pogba in t he l ast couple of months.

We debated on Monday Night Football, about two months ago, the preferred three in midfield — Fred, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes — and said Pogba would have to play off the left in front of them.

I know he played in midfield on Tuesday night but in the last couple of weeks there’s no doubt that Pogba is starting to have an influence on matches to the equal level of Fernandes. He’s starting to look like the player that Paul Pogba can be.

And Pogba will play off the left at Anfield with Fred, McTominay and Fernandes in midfield. At Anfield he will be important because it’s a tough place to go. But he’ll take the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold in that right channel and he’ll give him different types of problems from what a normal winger would do.

And United have Pogba until the end of the season — and that’s the right time to review his situation.

But the way he’s playing now, every time United clear from a set piece in their own box, I would say more often than not it’s Pogba that’s doing it. He’s now contributing in terms of the final third. He’s looking like he’s simplified his game and is showing more discipline.

He showed a lot of discipline at Burnley and l ooks l i ke he’s switched on. I think he’s got the bit between his teeth and he sees where United are in the league and he thinks, ‘This isn’t a bad bunch of players that I’m now playing with.’

He might now be thinking the glass is half full at United.

Gary Neville will be commentating on Liverpool v Manchester United exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW TV at 4.30pm