POG JOSE FINE FEAR
Pogba wants boss to put trust in him
PAUL POGBA says that he will be hammered by Manchester United if he reveals the full extent of his strained relationship with boss Jose Mourinho.
The midfielder (above) has gagged himself from talking about the situation with the Old Trafford chief because he will be hit in the pocket. In
PAUL POGBA has started the season with a simple message for Jose Mourinho – stop attacking me and I’ll be free to deliver everything for Manchester United.
The French World Cup winner has an uneasy relationship with Old Trafford boss Mourinho triggering talks of a summer exit with Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola desperate to move him to Barcelona.
United’s owners and internal hierarchy at Old Trafford have no interest in selling Pogba.
Although Mourinho struggles with Pogba’s celebrity status and flashy exterior, senior club figures see him as the essential stellar star to lead United’s quest to be champions again after a five-year wait.
Mourinho clashed with Pogba several times last season and even after his World Cup triumph in Russia the United boss riled the Frenchman by challenging him to play the same way every week in the Premier League.
Pogba clearly wants an end to the sniping and reckons more love and a less destructive narrative from Mourinho will benefit everyone.
And as United’s season kicked off with victory over Leicester, Pogba’s mighty display showcased his special talent – and brought some straight talking from the intelligent £89million midfield powerhouse.
“You have to know one thing – a player that gets chosen and is happy, you always feel more comfortable than when he’s not happy,” said Pogba.
“That’s all I say. After the World Cup I am the same. It’s the same Paul Pogba. It’s a different team, obviously.
“I still enjoy playing football, I still
love football and I still give my best with the team, for the team.
“When people trust you and have confidence then you are good in your own head and it’s going to be easier.”
Pogba and Mourinho will never be buddies. And throughout all his media duties after the Leicester win he never mentioned his manager.
“I always give my best for the fans, for the team-mates and for the people that trust me,” said Pogba.
Despite talk of wanting a new £350,000 deal to have parity with Alexis Sanchez, Pogba – on around £200,000-a-week – insists his life is about happiness not money.
“If you’re not happy in doing what you’re doing right now, there’s no point doing it,” he added.
“There’s a point about doing things for money, but there’s a point about doing things because you love it. If you are enjoying what you do you give your the best. But if you’re not happy, you cannot.”
That’s a clear indication his relationship with Mourinho has affected his ability to turn in the kind of dominant display he gave against Leicester.
That came after just four days of training following his summer break.
And although left-back Luke Shaw – one of Mourinho’s other whipping boys – was made man-of-the-match for his win-clinching first-ever goal for United it was Pogba’s drive, determination, influence and leadership that were key to victory.
“It’s three points, so I’m very happy. Of course the performance wasn’t the best, but it’s better to start like this and finish well than start very well and finish bad.
“Some of us, me included, didn’t have a lot of training. After 30 minutes I was out of breath and I told one of the staff to put some water on the side, but he didn’t.
“But it’s okay. The stamina was okay but my legs lost some power. Hopefully I will be back soon 100 per cent fit.
“But the most important thing was to start the Premier League well.”