Pogba in party mood
Sitting near to Paul Pogba on Saturday I watched his body language during the Fulham home game as he sat on the substitute’s bench. He looked distant and distracted. Then, in the after game drinks, I discovered that Paul’s mind was probably on the party to follow the match. United held their Christmas party at Manchester’s “Neighbourhood Bar & Restaurant” and Pogba looked to be in good spirits and was praised by Mourinho who said that Paul is a great player who will be even greater. The two were getting along fine at the party, both laughing and joking and the rift between them seems to have been pushed into the background for the festive season. On Sunday evening Paul joined Jesse Lingard when he launched his new clothes range “Be Yourself” for his label JLingz. Jesse was also joined by Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw who was teased by Pogba for wearing an outfit which he described as “like something from outer space”! The Reds seem to be a more united team than recently which they will need for Sunday’s clash with top of the table Liverpool.
Wolves have made a decent start to life back in the Premier League. However, I have been told exclusively that their recent loss to Huddersfield inspired manager Nuno Espirito Santo to phone Manchester United to ask about the possibility of signing defender Marcus Rojo in January. Santo is looking for more experience in defence and he thinks 28-year-old World Cup star Rojo would be a perfect fit at the back. United manager Jose Mourinho has worked intensely with Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof and they have been at the heart of United’s defence for much of this season with no place for Rojo. I have heard whispers from Everton that they too are interested in Rojo and when I spoke with them yesterday I understand the interest is still very much alive. Expect a tough fight for Rojo’s services in January if Mourinho says he can go.
Arsenal’s defender Shkodran Mustafi has been singing the praises of his manager Unai Emery. Emery’s remarkable unbeaten run this season is due to his skillful handling of his players according to Mustafi. He says, “The biggest thing he has brought to Arsenal is that he is someone who really knows what he wants from each player. He tells you exactly what he expects and gives you freedom to use your creative talent. When we don’t have the ball he tells you where to stand and how to get it back. And when we have the ball he gives you several options of where to move and where to place the ball to progress up the pitch. He has it all worked out. It is a good mix between freedom and discipline.
I wrote a couple of weeks ago that opposing managers have discovered how to beat Chelsea. Stop Jorginho in midfield and you stop Chelsea. I was reminded this week by one of my Chelsea club contacts that Sarri’s rule at Chelsea very much resembles what happened with the respected Luiz Felipe Scolari. He was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich after winning their first 12 matches in 2008-9 and then could not stop his team from falling apart in the Autumn. Scolari was like Sarri and refused to alter his tactics and in his case it was building the team around John Obi Mikel in midfield and playing a passing game originating with a deeplying midfield player. Teams such as Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have crowded players around Jorginho recently, preventing him from distributing the ball to his forwards. Wolves shackled the Blue’s Cesc Fabregas in the same way last week and Sarri’s Chelsea became instantly less effective. Sarri remains stubborn and says he will not change his tactics and he would also not change the role he has given to N’Golo Kante who is currently playing out of position as an attacking midfielder ahead of Jorginho. Abramovich, who attends matches or talks with his senior management after every game, will not give Sarri time if he starts to lose matches regularly. Ask Scolari, Andre Villas Boas and Roberto de Matteo, none of which lasted into their second season. I promised last week to follow up on my Matteo Guendouzi Olie story by reporting back to you how the young man is settling into life at Arsenal. It is already clear that the 19-year-old Frenchman is a hard worker and his energy has impressed new manager Unai Emery which is why he is being given game time. He has already proven that he will be one of the Premier League’s big stars in the near future. When talking with my close Arsenal contacts I was told that Matteo has blended in with his Arsenal teammates and formed a close relationship with Mesut Ozil and the two have been seen out together socializing. Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have also particularly taken to the youngster who is quickly becoming popular at the Colney training ground. With eight starts under his belt, Guendouzi has become a firm favourite with Arsenal fans as I witnessed a couple of weeks ago when they sang his name over and again. As ex-Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov said on Sunday morning TV, Guendouzi’s skill and talent is incredible (He actually uttered a word which I can’t print in this column!) It is difficult to think how he could perform with such confidence since arriving at the Gunners given that last year he was playing in front of a few thousand fans in the French second tier of football. It is hard to believe that Paris St Germain released the youngster four years ago but then tried to buy him back earlier this year.
When Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho received his first big pay packet he bought himself a Rolex watch and a Mercedes. As his value soars so does his lifestyle and now he flies in his own personal hairdresser from the UK to give him a cut and blow dry. He doesn’t trust German hairdressers! Both Arsenal and Tottenham have scouts watching him at the moment and it is possible an offer will be made for him in January. Sancho cost Dortmund only £8million when they signed him from Manchester City but his value, only a few months later, is thought to be around £80million! I have also learned that Manchester City are considering taking him back to Maine Road despite him leaving on a bad note when Pep Guardiola left him out of their pre-season tour squad. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is interested in Jadon because he knows he has to invest in the January transfer window so that he has more depth in his squad during injury periods. With no players bought this year, Spur’s are feeling the pressure at the top of the league.
When my colleague asked Eden Hazard if he is still thinking of a move to Real Madrid he answered, “Well, I am improving my Spanish language!” Mmmm… interesting, as Eden has still not signed his new Chelsea contract.