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.”
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes Marcus Rashford was unable to see football “the way I see it” before the unwanted England striker was shipped out of Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old Rashford fell dramatically out of favour with the Portuguese boss and spent seven weeks on the sidelines until he was loaned to Premier League rivals Aston Villa during the transfer window.
“I couldn’t put Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,” Amorim said on Thursday.
“And sometimes you have one player that is really good with one coach, and the same player with another coach is different.
“I just wish the best to Rashford and to (Aston Villa coach) Unai Emery, and they can connect because he’s a very good player.”
Amorim, whose team face Leicester in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, said his focus now is on turning around a wretched season.
“Guys, in the summer… like we said before, we are fighting for our jobs until the summer,” he said.
“So, I am just focused on these games. Thankfully about Marcus he is in Birmingham now with Unai, so you can take these questions to another coach. We are just focused on our players at the moment.”
A Nigerian federal lawmaker, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has publicly criticised what he describes as a “deliberate conspiracy” against Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, calling for the club to treat the player with respect.
Oseni, a passionate football fan and supporter of Nigerian club Shooting Stars FC, Ibadan, and Manchester United, voiced his concerns through an official statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan.
The lawmaker, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in Oyo State and serves as Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), accused United of undermining Rashford’s career. He suggested the club is intentionally frustrating the England international, who has been a key figure for the Red Devils since breaking into the first team in 2016.
A Deliberate Attempt to Tarnish Rashford’s Legacy
Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring for Manchester United against Everton(Image: Getty Images)
Oseni believes Manchester United’s handling of Rashford’s situation is unfair, arguing that the player is being pushed out for reasons beyond footballing performance.
“The posture of Manchester United towards Rashford is a deliberate attempt to rubbish the glory this young man has built over the years,” Oseni stated.
“If he has made any mistakes—whether due to youthful exuberance, personal struggles, or any other reason—it should be understood as part of life’s journey. Everyone experiences highs and lows, but instead of supporting him, they have chosen to humiliate him.”
Rashford, now 27, has been frozen out of the squad since mid-December, despite being the club’s 13th all-time highest goal scorer. Reports suggest new manager Rúben Amorim has questioned Rashford’s commitment and has deliberately excluded him, a move Oseni sees as unjust and damaging to the forward’s career.
The controversy escalated last Sunday when Amorim allegedly told his coaching staff that he would rather field United’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, than recall Rashford to the squad.
Oseni condemned the remark, calling it an unnecessary public humiliation of a player who has given his best years to the club.
Internal Politics and Envy Behind Rashford’s Exclusion
“It is evident that Rashford is being pushed out of the club, not because of poor performance, but due to envy and internal politics,” Oseni remarked.
“If they no longer want him, they should handle it professionally and help him secure a move to another club that will celebrate him, rather than destroying the young talent.”
Rúben Amorim
The lawmaker highlighted Rashford’s recent performances, noting that despite limited game time under Amorim, he still managed to score four goals in just three appearances before being frozen out. He argued that Rashford’s exclusion is based on personal differences rather than footballing merit.
“Rashford once said he was ready for a new challenge out of frustration. Anyone in his shoes would feel the same after facing such humiliation. Instead of supporting him, they are making things worse. But I strongly believe that all these provocations will eventually lead to his elevation,” Oseni added.
United Must Show Rashford Respect
The Nigerian politician urged Manchester United’s management to reconsider their approach, stressing that Rashford deserves respect for his years of dedication to the club.
“Even if he made an error by expressing a desire to leave, the situation should have been handled privately rather than publicly humiliating him,” Oseni said.
“The coach’s statement that he would rather play a 63-year-old goalkeeper than Rashford is not only disrespectful but also unnecessary provocation. Despite this, Rashford has shown remarkable patience, considering all he has contributed to the team during his prime.”
He concluded by urging the club to allow Rashford to move on professionally if they no longer see him as part of their plans.
“No matter the challenges he faces, they will ultimately lead to his elevation, and those attempting to bring him down will only contribute to his success in the long run.”
Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) staged a protest on Thursday at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, opposing the appointment of Eric Sekou Chelle as the substantive coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Led by Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, the Clerk of the Senate of NANS, the students condemned the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), describing the appointment as a disappointment to Nigerians and football enthusiasts. They called for its immediate reversal, threatening to embark on a nationwide protest to press home their demands.
Addressing the gathering, Odunayo criticized the NFF’s decision, arguing it undermined the pool of coaching talent within Nigeria. He stressed that the Super Eagles deserve a tactically sound coach capable of harnessing the nation’s abundant football talent.
“We are gathered here today to address an issue that has not only baffled us but has also drawn widespread disapproval from Nigerian students and sports enthusiasts alike,” Odunayo stated.
“On behalf of the National Association of Nigerian Students, I, Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, Clerk of the Senate of NANS National Headquarters, wish to categorically express our displeasure over the appointment of Eric Sekou Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
“This appointment, as announced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is not only unacceptable but also a slap in the face of our nation’s abundant pool of local coaching talent. Consequently, NANS, as the voice of the Nigerian students, is compelled to organize a national protest to demand a reversal of this decision.”
The NFF had confirmed the appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as the head coach of the Super Eagles on Tuesday. Chelle, who has previously managed clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran, was also head coach of Mali’s Aiglons until his dismissal in June 2024.
The NFF tasked Chelle with guiding the Super Eagles to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. With crucial qualification matches slated for March, his appointment is already generating controversy across the football-loving nation.
As the protests intensify, the NFF is yet to respond to the demands of NANS, leaving the future of the Super Eagles’ coaching leadership in uncertainty.
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