Paul Pogba has on the receiving end of plenty of criticism for his performances for Manchester United this season.
Graeme Souness has been ripping him to shreds on Sky Sports at every chance he gets. Similarly, Paul Scholes has been giving it to Pogba from all angles.
“He’s just strolling through the game. Where’s the Paul Pogba we saw at Juventus?” asked the former Manchester United midfielder on BT Sport on Saturday.
It seems a harsh judgement on the Frenchman. While he is often culpable for a rash decision or a mistimed tackle, the 24-year-old United midfielder has shown many glimpses of class this season, and the team certainly don’t look as threatening or as potent going forward without him.
He has a languid style of play, a cockiness to his game that you often see with the best players in the world. This relaxed demeanour gives off the impression that he’s not trying or he doesn’t care, but that’s just the way Pogba is, and he was just like this when he carved out that name for himself with Juventus.
Pogba turned in a classy display as United dispatched of Everton on Monday. The rangy midfielder provided two assists and created five goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. But what impressed the most was his consistent contribution from general play.
His first touch, and his ability to attack the space was a huge part of United’s victory, and regularly put the Everton rearguard on the back-foot.
Man of the Match, @paulpogba
81 touches
Completed 51 of 61 passes
5 chances created
2 assists (now 7 in PL this season)
Now unbeaten in last 34 PL apps for @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/PZ5QtYr82K— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 1, 2018
His Portuguese manager felt this was the perfect response to the swipes he has been receiving, and in typical Mourinho fashion, he didn’t let the opportunity go without issuing a riposte of his own.
“The only thing Paul Scholes does is criticise,” Mourinho said to the Manchester Evening News.
“Paul [Pogba] tries to do his best all the time and sometimes he plays very well, sometimes he plays well, sometimes he doesn’t play so well, it’s not Paul’s fault that he made much more money than Paul Scholes, it’s not Paul Pogba’s fault, it’s just the way football is,” he continued.
It didn’t end there, with Mourinho in top form.
“But I think Scholes will be in the history as a phenomenal player, but not as a pundit. So I prefer to look at him as a phenomenal player that gave so much to the club I am proud to represent and give my humble contribution. Every day I try to do my best, if one day Paul decides to be a manager, I wish that he can be 25 per cent as successful as myself.”
