The former Manchester United captain has called on Pogba to take more responsibility for his performances.
A month is a long time in football. On July 15, Paul Pogba was parading the World Cup trophy around the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow after helping France beat Croatia 4-2 in the final.
The midfielder scored and excelled in the game. He looked like the dominant midfielder United fans hoped he would become.
On August 19, he was part of a United team that fell to an embarrassing 3-2 defeat to Brighton in the second game of the Premier League season.
Pogba strangely admitted that his attitude wasn’t right against Brighton and also suggested that Brighton were better prepared – which felt like an obvious dig at his manager Jose Mourinho.
The pair have clashed throughout 2018. It seems like the Frenchman can’t give Mourinho what he wants – a midfielder who will be disciplined and hold his position. And Mourinho won’t give Pogba what he wants – the freedom to express himself on the pitch and be creative in the final third.
Two years into their working relationship, there doesn’t seem to be any obvious solution that will give them both what they want.
Many blame Mourinho for Pogba’s inability to perform for United the way he does for France. However, Wayne Rooney has called on Pogba to take more responsibility for his displays.
The DC United forward reckons that it is not just up to Mourinho to get the best out of his midfielder.
“He is a fantastic player, but he has to do it for himself,” United’s record goalscorer told CNN World Sport.
“If they’re going to win the title, he’ll be the main player in terms of them doing that. You hear a lot of people saying Jose Mourinho needs to get the best out of him but he needs to do it for himself and prove he’s at that level to help Man United.”
Mourinho would undoubtedly agree with Rooney.
