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Tag: Paul Pogba

  • EPL: Paul Pogba ready to face Arsenal

    EPL: Paul Pogba ready to face Arsenal

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will return to first-team action at home to Rochdale in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, before playing against Arsenal.

    United host the League One side in the third round of the Carabao Cup and will be boosted by the return of Pogba, who has missed the last three games against Leicester, Astana and West Ham due to an ankle injury.

    Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed he will rotate his squad and the France international is going to play some part before a pivotal Premier League clash with Arsenal on Monday Night Football.

    Solskjaer said: “He’ll probably get some minutes against Rochdale. But we definitely think he’s ready for Arsenal.”

     

  • Pogba, Martial out of Man Utd trip to West Ham, James doubtful

    Manchester United are still without injured trio Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Luke Shaw for Sunday’s Premier League trip to West Ham United, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday.

    He also said Welsh winger Daniel James is a doubt for the game.

    Pogba picked up an ankle injury in a 1-1 draw with Southampton before the international break.

    Martial and Shaw have not featured since Manchester United’s league defeat by Crystal Palace on Aug. 24.

    “Not really, no,” Solskjaer said, when asked if Pogba and Martial would be fit for the weekend’s match. “They’ve not been training yet so I don’t think so. (Luke) won’t be ready.

    James, who has scored three goals in five league games this season, suffered a knock in a 1-0 win over Leicester City last weekend.

    He was unavailable for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League victory over Kazakh side Astana.

    “Daniel James? I don’t know,” Solskjaer added. “He’s not trained the last few days. Hopefully, but not sure. We’ll have a recovery day with everyone tomorrow and we’ll see on Saturday.”

  • Pogba out as Guendouzi receives first France call-up

    Pogba out as Guendouzi receives first France call-up

    Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi has received his first France call-up after Paul Pogba was ruled out of their upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers through injury.

    France coach Didier Deschamps said that midfielder Pogba, 26, has an “ankle problem” after Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at Southampton on Saturday.

    Deschamps then called up Guendouzi, 20, for the games with Albania on Saturday and Andorra next Tuesday.

    Aymeric Laporte, Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe have also been ruled out.

    Pogba stayed in Manchester to have the injury assessed, rather than linking up with the France squad.

  • Solskjaer says media have an agenda against Pogba

    Solskjaer says media have an agenda against Pogba

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has moved to hose down speculation that Paul Pogba is unhappy and set to leave the club.
    In doing so on Wednesday, the Norwegian declared that the media have an “agenda” against the French 2018 FIFA World Cup winner.
    Pogba’s agent recently said the troubled 26-year-old intends to leave Manchester United, while the player, himself, said in Tokyo last month that he thought it might be time for a
    “new challenge somewhere else”.
    Serie A club Juventus and La Liga giants Real Madrid have been linked with Pogba.
    The speculation has followed Manchester United to Australia on their pre-season tour ahead of a match against A-League side Perth Glory on Saturday.
    Pogba has two years left on his contract, with the option for a third, however, and Solskjaer hit out at media for indulging in the transfer talk.
    “Agents talk all the time. As I said, we’ve not had any bids from any clubs,” he told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.
    “That’s all I can say about this matter.
    “There is an agenda against Paul. He’s a top, top bloke. A great professional. There’s never been any problems and he’s got a heart of gold.”
    Pogba moved to Old Trafford from Juventus for a then-world record transfer fee of £89.3 million in August 2016.
    He was named in last season’s PFA Premier League Team of the Year and has scored 31 goals in 142 appearances in all competitions.
    But he has frustrated fans with his inconsistency, and a series of low-key performances last season culminated in clashes with angry supporters in the final-day home defeat by relegated Cardiff.
    Manchester United posted a video of the team taking a stroll through Perth on its social media accounts earlier in the week.
    But the upbeat soundtrack of electronic music could not disguise what appeared to be a heated exchange between Pogba and team mate Jesse Lingard.
    Grinning defender Victor Lindelof came between the pair and threw an arm around Pogba as they continued walking but the moment sparked speculation of a rift in the camp.
    Solskjaer said there was nothing in it.
    “For example, Jesse and Paul walking around and it’s been portrayed as a fight between the two boys,” he said.
    “I know you’re here to sell papers and sell stories but that’s nothing, no problems between the boys at all. They’re all professional. Pre-season has been very, very good so far.”
    Manchester United kick off their new league campaign against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Aug. 11.

  • Pogba determined to leave Man United, says agent Raiola

    Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is ready to leave the English Premier League (EPL) side in the summer with a transfer “in the process”, the French midfielder’s agent Mino Raiola says.
    Pogba, who moved to Manchester United from Juventus in 2016 for a then-world record fee of 89.3 million pounds, has produced inconsistent displays.
    This was however in spite of scoring 31 goals in 142 appearances in all competitions.
    “Everyone within the club from the manager to the owner knows Paul’s wishes,” Raiola told the Times newspaper.
    “Everyone knows the willingness of Paul to move on. We’re in the process of that. Everyone knows what the feelings of Paul are.”
    British media has linked the 26-year-old World Cup winner with a move to Real Madrid, where he will link up with coach Zinedine Zidane, or a return to former club Juventus.
    Pogba had suggested last month in Tokyo that now “could be a good time to have a new challenge somewhere else”.
    He is currently in New York this week on a promotional tour, with Manchester United’s squad set to fly out to Australia shortly for a series of pre-season games.
    The games begin next week.
    Raiola did not confirm if Pogba would make the trip.
    “I can’t tell you anything. I live day by day,” he added.
    Manchester United kick off their new league campaign against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Aug. 11.

  • Serie A: Juventus signal interest in Paul Pogba

    Serie A: Juventus signal interest in Paul Pogba

    Juventus are interested in signing Paul Pogba back from Manchester United, according to Sky in Italy.

    The Italian champions have made contact with Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola over a potential summer move for the France international, and also understood that Manchester United have been informed of Juventus’ interest.

    Pogba first joined Juve on a free transfer in 2012 after struggling to secure regular first-team football at Old Trafford.

    The midfielder enjoyed four successful seasons in Turin before rejoining United in 2016 for a then world-record fee of £89m.

    Pogba has experienced mixed fortunes during his second spell in Manchester, scoring 31 goals in 135 games since returning to the club.

    The 2018 World Cup winner still has two years remaining on his current deal at United, with the club holding an option to trigger a further 12-month extension to his contract.

    Real Madrid have also been linked with Pogba and the midfielder fuelled speculation he could move to the Bernabeu this summer after describing the club as “a dream for anyone” in April.

  • I can’t see Pogba leaving Man Utd – Solskjaer

    I can’t see Pogba leaving Man Utd – Solskjaer

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he cannot see playmaker Paul Pogba leaving Old Trafford before next season.

    The French midfielder, who rejoined United in August 2016, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

    Speaking before Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona, Solskjaer said: “Paul Pogba is looking forward to tomorrow.

    “At Paul’s best he can run a game like this. I cannot see him not playing for Manchester United next season.”

    Pogba missed Manchester United’s remarkable comeback in their last-16 tie with Paris St-Germain after being sent off during the first leg.

    There were widespread reports of acrimony between Pogba and former United manager Jose Mourinho, before the Portuguese was sacked in December.

    Under Solskjaer, the former Juventus man has scored nine goals in 23 appearances, with the manager describing him as “a Manchester United boy through and through” in December.

    “He is a Man United player, one of our big performers on the big stage,” the Norwegian said.

    “He knows the game against PSG wasn’t his best.

    “His job is to be the creator, win the ball and drive forward and I expect him to perform tomorrow.”

    As many as six players could leave United at the end of the season with uncertainty over the futures of the likes of Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez.

     

  • EPL: Pogba wants £500,000-a-week to remain at Old Trafford

    EPL: Pogba wants £500,000-a-week to remain at Old Trafford

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid, wants £500,000 a week to stay at Old Trafford, according to The Sun.

    Pogba is thought to be flattered by the prospect of moving to Spain and United will do everything in their power to keep the midfielder.

    The France international current deal has two years to run, although United have an option to extend that for a further 12 months.

    But the Red Devils could be willing to put a three-year extension on the table, tying Pogba to Old Trafford until 2024.

    Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hopes to land fellow Frenchman Pogba as well as Chelsea’s Eden Hazard as part of his Bernabeu summer refit.

     

  • EPL: Solskjaer deserves Man Utd job – Pogba

    EPL: Solskjaer deserves Man Utd job – Pogba

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has said interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves the club full-time coaching role after restoring confidence and freedom the team lacked towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure

    Solskjaer has helped them to win 10 out of the 13 English Premier League (EPL) games since his appointment and to also reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

    “We want him to stay. The results have been great. I have a great relationship with him, he has a great relationship with the players,” Pogba said.

    “When a player is happy, he wants to keep being happy. Solskjaer deserves it. He knows the club, he knows everything about the club. He is a really happy coach that gave confidence back to the players.

    “This gave us the freedom to play and enjoy football again because maybe we lost that with the results we had before.”

    In spite of winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, Pogba struggled for form under Mourinho who benched him.

    But the 26-year-old is back to his best under Solskjaer with nine goals and seven assists in all competitions.

    “Maybe we lost confidence, maybe things went wrong. A lot of talking outside that we weren’t used to,” Pogba said, reflecting on the final part of Mourinho’s tenure.

    “I don’t like to talk about the past. I like to talk about the future because that’s what matters. We’re better now and the results have been brilliant.”

    Manchester United are fifth in the EPL with 58 points from 30 matches and within three points of third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

    They take on FC Barcelona in the last eight round of the UEFA Champions League in April.

  • Ibrahimovic lambasts Ferguson’s Class of 92 for Pogba criticism

    Manchester United’s former players from the famous Class of 92 are critical of midfielder Paul Pogba because he was not loyal to former manager Alex Ferguson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said.

    Pogba, who came through Manchester United’s academy, left the club for free in 2012 after Ferguson fell out with the Frenchman’s agent Mino Raiola.

    But he returned following a four-year spell at Juventus for a then world record fee in 2016.

    The 26-year-old was criticised for his poor form earlier this season by former players Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, who work as television pundits.

    Ibrahimovic said it all stemmed from Pogba’s decision to leave Manchester United and Ferguson for Juventus.

    “With Pogba, he was with Manchester United when he was young, then he went out and he came back,” Ibrahimovic, who played with Pogba at Manchester United for one and a half seasons, said.

    “In the circle of Ferguson, they don’t like that because they stayed all their life under Ferguson and they never moved from Ferguson.

    “They didn’t even talk if Ferguson didn’t tell them to open their mouth. So, now if they’re talking, I don’t know whether Ferguson gave them permission or not.”

    Wales manager Ryan Giggs, who made more than 960 appearances for Manchester United and won 13 league titles under Ferguson, said the former players had a right to voice their views.

    “When you play over 2,000 games between us, we are going to have an opinion,” Giggs told reporters ahead of Wales’ friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

    “Sometimes it’s positive, sometimes negative, but it doesn’t have an effect on results. We are supporters. That’s what football is about, having different opinions.

    “But he (Ibrahimovic) obviously knows more about the club than us,” Giggs sarcastically added.

    In spite of playing a crucial role in winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France last year, Pogba struggled for form at Manchester United earlier this season.

    That was under former manager Jose Mourinho, who benched the midfielder towards the end of his Old Trafford tenure.

    But Pogba then turned his campaign right around with nine goals and seven assists in all competitions after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed caretaker boss in December.

    “I think Pogba has the potential to be the best player in the world in his position,” Ibrahimovic, now with MLS side LA Galaxy, added.

    “He’s a good guy, he trains hard, he listens, he wants to become better, he wants to win, he wants to perform in every game.

    “Things happening outside do not really bother him because when you are at that level, everyone will speak — positive, negative, in between.”