POGBA SPEAKS UP
After constant and recurring speculation linking him with a move away from United, Paul Pogba finally addressed the media regarding his future. Pogba who was dropped by Mourinho for a few games last month cleared the air and came out and emphatically rejected speculation surrounding his future. Pogba said,” [Jose] is my coach. I respect all his choices. I’m playing less. It’s not something that has happened to me before. In my young career, I’ve always played 90 minutes and haven’t found myself on the bench. But here we are, it’s happening. What I’ve been going through, I’ve never experienced it before. But I think one has to go through these things to turn a corner.”
Pogba’s words helped worried United fans rest away after two months of speculation regarding his future.
BETTER THAN THE REST
After his side’s win over Swansea on Saturday, Jose Mourinho came out fighting and suggested that while his side might not be as good as City, it is better than the rest of the Premier League. Mourinho said,” It’s important for me that since we left the first position and went to second, we stayed there for the whole of the season. We deserved to finish second in spite of what you can say, the critics you can make, you all say the third, fourth, fifth, sixth are better than us, but they are not better than us because we have more points than them.” United are currently on 68 points, level with what Spurs had at this stage last season. The club have definitely improved over the past year but the squad is not getting enough credit for it because of the season that Manchester City have had.
UMTITI SPEAKS OUT
Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti seemingly confirmed United’s interest in the French International. Umtiti also agreed to the existence of a low release clause in his contract. Umtiti said: “Negotiations for a new contract have not started yet. My release clause is low, but that is not what I worry about, I focus on the pitch. It’s not only Manchester United, other clubs want me as well, but my focus is on Barcelona.” While United were the only team name-checked by the defender, it is clear that Ed Woodward and the team will have their work cut out while negotiating a potential transfer.
COACH CARRAS
While he wasn’t named on the bench against Swansea, club captain Michael Carrick was present on the bench alongside Mourinho in a coaching role for the first time in his career. Carrick is hanging up his boots at the end of the season and joining the coaching team next term. But it looks like Mourinho is accelerating that process and wants to give the Englishman an experience on the bench ahead of the end of the season. It is expected that he will get more opportunities before the dust settles on this term.