How Pogba always had a Tunn of class
RYAN TUNNICLIFFE plans to give Paul Pogba a blast from the past tonight as he locks horns with his former team- mate. France World Cup winner Pogba recently claimed the Luton Town midfielder helped him settle when the pair played together in Manchester United’s youth team. But Tunnicliffe is out to stop him as Nathan Jones’ ones underdogs bid to o cause a big EFL
Cup upset against the Old Trafford giants. Tunnicliffe, right, said: “Everyone can see e he is world class. I played alongside him quite a few times. But to play against him would be quite fun. “To win the World Cup is something you dream of as a kid so for that to happen to him was amazing, but when he first came he was a good lad.
“He was loud but I had been there a while so I just did anything I could to help him. You could see how good a player he was. I knew he’d be my midfield partner so we tried to bond and have a relationship off the field and it was nice of him to say what he did about me.
“He’s bigger and stronger than he was. I have an idea what I’m up against. But it is up to me to stop him. I don’t really have a point to prove. But I was there a long time so it’s a big one for me.”
Boyhood fan Tunnicliffe joined Un United at nine, winn winning the young pla player of the year a award in 2011, but le left for Fulham three years later after playing only two first- team games. He once won hi his dad a £ 10,000 bet during his time at Old Trafford and also worked for a year under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, then the club’s reserve- team coach.
The 27- year- old said: “Dad put a bet on when I was nine to play a competitive first- team game for United and when I played against Newcastle he cashed it in.”
Tunnicliffe was shocked when Pogba left United for Juventus in 2012. He added: “He was on the cusp of the first team. But it was not a bad decision as he has won Italian leagues and cups and is now back.”