Sports
Pogba to Mourinho: Let me be HAPPY and I’ll produce for Manchester United
Paul Pogba has started the season with a simple message for Jose Mourinho – stop attacking me and I’ll be free to deliver everything for Manchester United.
The French World Cup winner has an uneasy relationship with Old Trafford boss Mourinho triggering talks of a summer exit with Pogba’s agent Mina Raiola desperate to move him to Barcelona.
United’s owners and internal hierarchy at Old Trafford have no interest in selling Pogba.
Although Mourinho struggles with Pogba’s celebrity status and flashy exterior, senior club figures see him as the essential stellar star to lead United’s quest to be champions again after a five year wait for the League title.
Mourinho clashed with Pogba several times last season and even after his World Cup triumph in Russia the United boss riled the Frenchman and his camp by challenging him to play the same way every week in the Premier League.
Pogba clearly wants an end to the sniping and reckons more love and a less destructive narrative from Mourinho will benefit everyone.
And as United’s season kicked off with victory over Leicester Pogba’s mighty display showcased his special talent – and brought some straight talking from the intelligent £89million midfield power-house.
“You have to know one thing. You have to know one thing – a player that gets chosen and is happy, you always feel more comfortable than when he’s not happy” said Pogba.
“That’s all I say. After the World Cup I am the same. I am the same. It’s the same Paul Pogba.
“It’s a different team, obviously.
“I still enjoying playing football, I still love football and I still give my best with the team, for the team.
“Like I said, when you are comfortable, when people trust you and have confidence then you are good in your own head and it’s going to be easier.”
Pogba and Mourinho will never be bosom buddies. And throughout all his media duties after the Leicester win he never mentioned his manager once.
“I always give my best for the fans, for the team-mates and for the people that trust me” said Pogba.
Despite talk of wanting a new £350,000 deal to have parity with Alexis Sanchez, Pogba – on around £200,000-a-week – insists his life is about happiness not money.
“If you’re not happy in doing what you’re doing right now, there’s no point doing it” he says.
“If you’re doing it for money, there’s a point about doing things for money, but there’s a point about doing things because you love it.
“If you are enjoying what you do you give your the best. But if you’re not happy, you cannot give your best.”
That’s a clear indication his relationship with Mourinho has affected his happiness at the club and his ability to turn in the kind of dominant display he gave against Leicester.
That came after just four days training following his summer break.
And although left-back Luke Shaw – one of Mourinho’s other whipping boys – was made man-of-the-match for his win-clinching first ever goal for United it was Pogba’s drive, determination, influence and leadership that were key to victory.
“It’s three points, it’s what we wanted so I’m very happy. Of course the performance wasn’t the best, but it’s better to start like this and finish well then start very well and finish bad.
“Some of us, me included, didn’t have a lot of training and we played a game.
“After 30 minutes I was out of breath and I told one of the staff to put some water on the side, but he didn’t, so I couldn’t go and drink.
“But it’s okay. The stamina was okay but my legs lost some power. Hopefully I will be back soon fit, very fit, 100 per cent fit.
“We knew we were not going to be fit, 100 per cent, but the aim and most important thing was to start well the Premier League and we did that.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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