Top four is Pogba aim

PAUL POGBA says it is his personal mission to ensure Manchester United return to the Champions League.

And he wants to do it twice – by winning the Europa League and finishing in the top four of the Premier League.

As United prepared for their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Anderlecht here, Pogba, right, said: “I came to United to do big things. It’s normal for United to play Champions League. We have everything to achieve it – the manager, the staff, the players.

“We have to get back to the Champions League. How would I like to do it? To be honest, I’d like to do it by finishing in the top four and winning the

Europa League.” Pogba also believes that by helping United get back into Europe’s elite club competition, it will help them attract the bigname players such as his French team-mate Antoine Griezmann, who is Jose Mourinho’s top summer target.

“When I signed here I knew I would be playing Europa League,” added Pogba.

“It wasn’t a problem because I knew the challenge was to get back to the Champions League and to do big things. To do big things, you need big players. And if it helps the club get new players, then great.

“It will be good to have big players around us for the challenge ahead.”

Mourinho, meanwhile, has warned goalkeeper David De Gea he cannot allow renewed interest from Real Madrid to affect his performances.

The United manager said: “I’m not interested in the speculation. If the player is, he shouldn’t be, because we are playing for very important things now and every match is crucial. We need total focus. The end of the season is the time when players can think about what is going to happen with their careers.”

Wayne Rooney was left behind when United flew out with Mourinho saying the United captain was still not fully fit after his ankle problem.

“Wayne is not happy with his condition,” said Mourinho. “He is trying to work with the team but he’s not confident, not happy.

“We have to see for the weekend or the next week.”