Pogba problems nothing to do with me, insists Mourinho

Manchester: Jose Mourinho (pic) has suggested that it is up to Paul Pogba to explain why he has been so inconsistent for Manchester United this season.

The midfielder was in fine form for France on Tuesday, scoring with a 30-yard free-kick after setting up a goal for Kylian Mbappe in a 3-1 friendly international victory over Russia in St Petersburg.

Pogba, though, has struggled for United in recent months.

Having scored in their first two Premier League matches of the season, he has managed only one club goal since then, which came in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle on Nov 18.

There have been numerous reports of disharmony between Pogba and United manager Mourinho, with France coach Didier Deschamps publicly suggesting the midfielder cannot be happy at Old Trafford.

Mourinho has repeatedly refused to give credence to those reports, but has made clear that Pogba’s problems have nothing to do with a hamstring injury suffered in September.

The 25-year-old missed more than two months of football after sustaining the injury during a Champions League group-stage victory over Basel, and has not looked as good a player since returning.

Questioned as to why that was, Mourinho told a news conference on Friday: “Ask him. Ask him when you get a chance when he thinks about it.”

On Pogba’s loss of form, the Portuguese manager added: “It’s nothing to do with his injury. His recovery was good.

“This season and also last season (he had a bad injury). I think he is very fine after the injury.

“It was a difficult injury, it was an injury that other players, other clubs, other medical assessments – they end in surgery. “I think he is more than fine in relation to his recovery from the injury, which is an area sometimes where you have a recurrence. In his case, not at all.”Mourinho, meanwhile, suggested there is nothing more he can do to help the midfielder.

“I work. It’s the only thing I can do. I cannot do anything else,” he said.