Prove you’re our top Pog
UNITED STAR MUST EARN JOSE’S TRUST
JOSE MOURINHO has urged Paul Pogba to prove he can be trusted to produce his best for Manchester United.
The club’s £89m record signing has been benched for their last two games but will start tonight’s Champions League dead rubber against Valencia.
But boss Mourinho cannot count on Pogba to deliver in the big games for United, which is why the France World Cup winner is set to return to the bench again for Sunday’s visit to Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Mourinho refused to offer an explanation as to why he has been unable to get the best out of Pogba this season.
When asked what he was looking for from Pogba tonight in Spain he said: “I’m looking for him to play well and have a good impact in the game and a good impact in the team, a team with some players that are not playing a lot.
“I hope people like Paul and a couple of others that are not normally in the team can have a good impact on the team.”
But Mourinho was annoyed at suggestions he was in any way at fault for the midfielder’s poor form.
“I don’t think your question goes in the direction of what I want to answer or listen,” he added.
“I don’t like your question. You can put the question from another direction, but I don’t like the direction.” But Pogba’s from DAVID McDONNELL in Valencia team-mate Juan Mata has backed the 25-year-old star to rediscover his best form and reclaim his status as an automatic pick.
“We all have better and worse moments in our careers and in a season,” said Mata, who is returning to the club where he enjoyed a lengthy spell before he joined Chelsea in 2011. “As a team-mate, hopefully, I can do something from my side to support him and show that he will keep showing how good a player he is.
“Paul is looking forward to playing and giving his best for the team and trying to perform at his best, because we all know that when he does, he’s a fantastic midfielder.
“Obviously what I want is that he can play at his best level, because if he plays well, the team will improve a lot.” Mourinho also said he had nothing to do with a statement issued by his agent, Jorge Mendes, on Friday insisting United are happy with his client and he with the club. The Portuguese coach added: “I had nothing to do with the statement.
“It wasn’t my statement. I didn’t know at all and I don’t care about it.”
United have already qualified for the last 16 and will need to win tonight and Juventus to drop points away to Young Boys to go through as group winners.