EPL 2016/17: Pogba asks Mourinho for a more attacking role at Manchester United
Manchester United’s world record signing, Paul Pogba has implored manager Jose Mourinho to play him in a more attacking role. The Frenchman plays a similar role for his national side, and scored during the international break, which only underlined his relatively quiet start to life at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Manchester Evening News, Pogba outlined that Mourinho has him working defensively, which ‘costs’ the Frenchman, saying “I try to adapt.I am a player who would rather go forward. The coach gave me instructions, I try to follow them. I have to retrieve balls and make defensive efforts. It cost me a bit to play differently, much like Pirlo. I have to play, be there to recover and play more for the team.”
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The Frenchman has been playing in a box-to-box role alongside Marouane Fellaini, hence has to limit his forays forward for Manchester United. The €105 million buy has looked rather quiet in midfield as compared to his Juventus days, with many pundits unimpressed by Pogba’s overall performances for the Red Devils this season.
Pogba shines for France in a free role
In contrast, Pogba plays a much more free role for France, and impressed, netting a spectacular long-range winner for his national side as they defeated Netherlands 1-0 in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. France moved to the top of the table qith 7 points from 3 games, while Netherlands slipped to 3rd place with 4 points.
Pogba underlined how happy he was with his goal after the game, but also noted that the team’s result was more important. The Frenchman revealed the focus in France’s sqaud, saying “Our goal is to go to the World Cup. Today, we took some good points. It was a good first half and it was a little more laborious in the second. But we're happy.”
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Pogba has not yet shown the full range of his talent in a Manchester United shirt, having only scored a single goal in six games for the club in the Premier League. The Red Devils have struggled in quite a few league games this season as a result, with Jose Mourinho's side only sitting sixth in the table.
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