Leicester dumped by four-goal Manchester United

Manchester United got their title quest back on track with a resounding victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford.

Having lost back-to-back Premier League matches Jose Mourinho’s side responded by blowing Leicester away with four first-half goals from Chris Smalling, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba.

Smalling, captain in place of the benched Wayne Rooney, headed in Daley Blind’s corner midway through the first half, and three goals in the final eight minutes of the half put the hosts out of sight.

Mata produced a sublime finish on 37 minutes after Jesse Lingard had laid off Pogba’s chipped pass, and two minutes later Rashford scored from close range, after Mata helped on Blind’s quickly-taken corner.

Pogba made it four on 42 minutes, heading another Blind corner past Ron-Robert Zieler and though Demarai Gray, on for Jamie Vardy, reduced the arrears on the hour there was no coming back for the defending champions.

Pogba should forget record fee, play freely for Manchester United – Mourinho

Jose Mourinho wants Paul Pogba to forget his world-record price tag and show Manchester United his true quality.

A summer of discussion bore fruit five weeks ago when the open secret of the 23-year-old’s Old Trafford return from Juventus was made official.

United paid an eye-watering €105 million euros (£89 million) to bring back a player who left them four years earlier in search of first-team football, with a further €5m (£4.25m) due if certain targets are met.

It is a remarkable, record-breaking fee that sees Pogba stand alone as the world’s most expensive player ever — a price tag that appeared to weigh heavily in United’s disappointing back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Feyenoord.

Mourinho had expected the Frenchman’s tail-off after his bright start to life at United, and now wants him to block out the background noise that comes with his status.

“The world-record player is always a question that will be open until somebody breaks the record,” Mourinho said. “I think there are clubs that paid 20, 30, 40 [million pounds], which is a bigger deal than what Man United paid for Paul because you make a relation between what you pay and the club revenue.

“You realise that other clubs paying 20, 30, 40 is a much bigger thing than what Man United did, and I just want Paul to forget that and to play his football.

“Euro final, no preseason, holidays, come back — it’s normal that in the first week he had the very good impact in the first game.

“It’s normal that after the first game he has a little decrease, but I am full of trust with him because I know the player he is.

“I know that he is a very good guy with a lot of ambition, so the form will come naturally and will come with the team. The team improves, Paul improves. No problem.”

Pogba’s form tallies with United’s own drop-off after their winning start to life under Mourinho came to a shuddering halt.

They head to Watford on Sunday looking to avoid a third straight defeat, which could see them fall six points behind Pep Guardiola’s City after just five matches.

“You are right, it is early days,” Mourinho said. “I prefer to be four in front than four behind, that’s obvious, but as you are saying it’s very early days.”

Asked, though, if Watford was the biggest match of his short reign given the events of this week, Mourinho said: “Watford? I think Man United has to show every game, every game, every competition.

“The club is too big, the supporters are too passionate for the professionals not to feel that every game is a very important game, so I don’t think they should need a defeat or in this case two defeats to try to give everything they have to give.

“It should belong to them and that is what I expect from them — it is that on Sunday we will try to win the match, normal.”

A good start would certainly help United’s chances in Hertfordshire, given the sloppy and unwieldy first-half displays that played a large part in their downfall in both the Manchester derby and their Europa League opener.

“Look, I always say that the best motivation you can have is your own motivation,” Mourinho added. “If you need other people to motivate you … I always feel that my job is that I am an extra source of motivation, but the motivation belongs to the players.

“And if the players at this age need … the great life, the money, they have to do what they want, I think they shouldn’t need an extra source of motivation.

“The motivation belongs to themselves so I believe in that, I believe that on Sunday they will try to win the match, try to give absolutely everything and it will be just by them to try to help.”

Gonzalo Higuain transfer fee 'more logical' than Paul Pogba's - Crespo

Hernan Crespo has said Juventus did not pay over the odds for Gonzalo Higuain -- but indicated that Manchester United may have done so for Paul Pogba.
Juve brought in Higuain, last season's leading Serie A goal scorer, from Napoli for €90 million (£75.6m).
General manager Beppe Marotta insisted it was an investment the club would have made even had they not been set to recoup that money and more from the £89.3m (€105m) sale of Pogba.
And Crespo -- the world's most expensive player when Lazio signed him from Parma for €55m in 2000 -- told La Nacion: "You don't get anything for free, even less so in football.
"If they spent that much it is only because Higuain is worth it or at least they expect to get a return on him.
"I believe it is far more logical to pay €90m for Higuain, who has just scored 36 goals, than spending €110m on Pogba.
"With all respect -- and he is a great player -- goals are what make the difference in world football."
Crespo, who scored 323 goals during his career, is currently out of work after coaching Modena in Serie B last season.

Manchester United 'perfect' for Paul Pogba - Griezmann

According to Pogba's France teammate and Atletico Madrid star, Antoine Griezmann, the Manchester United midfielder made the right transfer.

Antoine Griezmann believes Paul Pogba has joined the 'perfect' club in Manchester United.

Griezmann tweeted excitedly ahead of Pogba's first appearance since rejoining United for £89million, using the 'Pogback' hashtag The Reds popularised to greet the Frenchman's return.

Pogba performed well in United's 2-0 win over Southampton, completing 90 minutes in his first outing since France's Euro 2016 final defeat to Portugal on July 10.

Atletico Madrid forward Griezmann was linked with United before he sparkled at Euros, where he scored six goals for France, and he is confident his compatriot will succeed in the Premier League.

"I think the supporters in England won't be disappointed," Griezmann told the Guardian. "They can expect the spectacular from Paul. He deserves it, he works hard and he has the talent to be such an important player.

"He loves that league. Manchester [United] is the perfect club for him, with Mourinho they are making something new."

Griezmann, who scored a phenomenal 39 goals in 67 appearances for club and country last season, hinted he is open to playing in the Premier League later in his career, partly because United great David Beckham was his idol.

"I liked him a lot," he added. "He was my idol, that's why I wear a long-sleeved jersey and wear the number seven.

"Why not [move to England]? If I am out of contract with Atletico I would ask myself that question."

Griezmann's brother, Theo, has often tweeted his support for United.

Ryan Giggs talks Jose Mourinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and more on Friday Night Football

Ryan Giggs gave his detailed take on Manchester United's start to the season after their 2-0 win over Southampton on Friday Night Football.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's double gave United their third competitive win of the campaign out of three under Jose Mourinho, and Giggs was on the FNF panel alongside Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Jamie Redknapp to give his views.

From Mourinho's style and Pogba's position to Zlatan and United's wealth of options, Giggs gives his take on the current state of his former club...

On Mourinho's style...

The fans want to see them winning games obviously, but United fans demand attractive football and that's been the complaint over the last three years since Sir Alex has retired. But we need to be fighting for titles and I think they've got a good chance this year, I really do.

I think they would [take 1-0 wins and win the title], but you can still have both and United fans are greedy. As a fan, I'm greedy and I want both. I want to win games but I want to do it in an attractive manner.

On Paul Pogba...

He's a talent. You see the size of him and the physicality of the Premier League won't be a problem for him. It was interesting seeing that when Thierry asked him about his qualities and he doesn't actually know his best qualities.

We've come away from the idea of having two in midfield and letting them do everything  - one sit and one go forward and vice-versa - and I think he can do that for United. I think they could play with two, in the bigger games they may have to tweak it a little bit but he will bring physicality and he can score goals, run past the Ibra's and the Rooney's and he's grown up playing in England so it won't be a problem to him.

He could be a Roy Keane, Bryan Robson or Steven Gerrard, someone who can do everything. We get too hung up on 'he's a sitting midfielder or he's an attacking midfielder' but why can't a midfielder do everything? That's what they're supposed to do.

Leicester did it last year and won the league. It's quite simple what they did. You need intelligent players around you and you need to get the balance right. Sometimes you need players to fill in for you but I don't see why he can't do that.

I think the biggest compliment I can give him is that I was watching that game and watching Paul Pogba and I wasn't thinking of £89m. I was just thinking of a player enjoying himself and trying things and expressing himself and as the game went on, yes sometimes things won't come off, but he's trying things and he's releasing himself, he's all over the pitch, he wants to get on the ball and it was a brilliant, brilliant performance when you take into consideration he's only trained for a week, the price tag and he's still only 23.

He's won the league for the last four years and he's been at a top club, let's not forget that. If he keeps playing like that, like I said the price tag won't be mentioned.

On Zlatan Ibrahimovic...

When United signed Ibrahimovic, we were talking about the quality that he brings, the hold-up play, the flicks but we didn't talk about these sort of headed goals, these typical English centre-forward goals and he's scored two of them already. It's a brilliant asset to have.

On comparisons to Eric Cantona...

Let's go outside the pitch. Eric was a brilliant, brilliant professional and from what I hear of Ibrahimovic, he's the same. You get this image of him that he's arrogant and everything looks easy but he doesn't play at the top for his amount of time without being a professional and without doing things right.

You can see in the post-match interview with Pogba, they're having a laugh and the spirit is there and you don't win anything without team spirit.

If you're going to win the league you need someone who's going to score goals and he might be the one to provide the goals.

On United's current squad...

I think if you're going to challenge for trophies, then you've got to have a squad and at the moment, we've got a really strong squad I think. You've got so many options. This team I can guarantee you won't be the one for the last game of the season.

To win the Premier League, it's a war of attrition. You've got to get through the winter months, over the Christmas period and you've got to chop and change. 

When you look at the bench, it's so strong and there are so many options.

I see the squad evolving under Jose Mourinho. I think they've got a huge chance because of the options they've got and like I say, to win the Premier League is a war of attrition and you need a squad. When you're competing in Europe, when you go on a cup run, you need a squad and I think the biggest problem Jose has got is keeping everyone happy.

On Marcus Rashford...

You saw it a couple of times when we counter-attacked and say Luke Shaw is the furthest up the pitch and there's not many players in the box because he's so quick, they couldn't keep up with him. Like I say, they've got so many options and Marcus is a brilliant option because he runs in behind and defenders hate playing against him because he's causing you problems.

 He's a centre-forward. He plays as a centre-forward position so well. At the moment, with Ibrahimovic scoring, he's not going to get in but I don't think that's a bad thing for Marcus. I think he can come on and be an impact player. There's a lot of pressure on him because of the season he had last year but it's a nice problem to have for Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho: Pogba was phenomenal

 

Jose Mourinho praises new signing and team unity in Man Utd's 2-0 win over Southampton

Jose Mourinho hailed an organised team performance and singled out Paul Pogba for special praise after the summer signing shone on his debut for Manchester United.
The Red Devils completed a 2-0 success over Southampton at Old Trafford thanks to goals in either half from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Mourinho praised both the goalscorer and his fellow summer signing Pogba.
"Pogba was phenomenal and surrounded by organisation, by vision for the game," Mourinho told manutd.com. "I'm so happy with the organisation of the team.
"Everything that was individual was superb and the things related to the team Pogba tried very hard to do. When I was thinking he was losing consistency and possession, was when I brought Ander Herrera on to close the defensive door."
The Portuguese also paid tribute to the goalscorer, Ibrahimovic, who has hit the ground running in Premier League, taking his tally to three goals in two matches.
"If he doesn’t score, the contribution will be there because he can’t score every week. The way he holds the ball, the way he’s a target man and gives stability to the team, I think he was very good again."

Photos: Paul Pogba and Thierry Henry do the dab dance

 

 

New Mancester United footballer Paul Pogba was photographed doing the dab dance alongside his childhood idol Thierry Henry who now works as a football Pundit.

French football icon Thierry Henry visited Manchester United's training ground on Thursday to do a Sky Sports interview with the World's most expensive player ahead of his second debut for Man Utd against Southampton on Friday night.

De Gea: Pogba feels at home with United

David De Gea has welcomed Paul Pogba's record-breaking return to Manchester United and claimed it feels like the Frenchman had never left Old Trafford.

The France international left Manchester in 2012 to prove his worth at Juventus by winning four Serie A titles in Italy. Although he was suspended for Sunday's Premier League opener at Bournemouth, the 24-year-old is in contention to make his second United debut against Southampton on Friday night.

There is already plenty of excitement surrounding Pogba's reappearance in the red shirt and that is shared by De Gea, the club's three-time Player of the Year. "I think he is something special," enthused the United goalkeeper on MUTV. "Signing for this club, he played here before and I think he’s home. 

"He feels like this is his home and we are all really, really happy to have him again in Manchester. He's now with all his friends again in Manchester, with everyone here, and he looks like he never left the club. He's really good for the team.

"I think it’s good to have a mix of young players and experienced players," De Gea continued. "That's what we have in the team now and I think it’s really good for the young players. They have done really well, they train very hard and it’s really good to see."

Infographics: World’s most expensive footballers

Manchester United bought Paul Pogba for a world-record €105m plus a potential bonus fee of €5m, Juventus confirmed Tuesday.

“Juventus Football Club can today confirm that Paul Pogba has completed a move to Manchester United for a fee of €105m to be paid in two financial years,” the Italian club said in a statement.

The sum beats the previous record set by the transfer of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, “thus making Pogba the most valuable player in the sport’s history”, Juventus said.

See infograph of the world’s most expensive players.

Paul Pogba passes Manchester United medical: Deal to be officially announced tomorrow

The Frenchman arrived in Manchester earlier today ahead of his £90million transfer from Juventus.
Later he was spotted arriving at United's Carrington training ground in a top of the range Chevrolet.

And now the Guardian claim the 23-year-old has completed his medical.
The report adds Pogba will be formally announced as a United player tomorrow.
Pogba will become Jose Mourinho’s fourth summer signing, following Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Old Trafford.

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Paul Pogba has passed his medical at Man United

 

And speaking about Pogba after United’s 2-1 Community Shield win against Leicester, Mourinho said: “United is the perfect club to bring him to the level he wants to be.
“And the Premier League is the perfect habitat for that.
“If you want to be the best player in the world if you go to Barcelona or Real Madrid you are in trouble because I don’t think the other two big guys [Ronaldo and Messi] won’t let you do it!

“Here, he has the conditions to develop in the most seen championship worldwide which is incredible and with a team that wants to bring Manchester United to the top again.
“We have everything to give him, and we know the reasons he wants to come to us. Money you will get any big club, that’s not the point. He comes because he knows the club, the city and many of the players.
“He wants to be part of the Manchester United project. Hopefully everything goes well and he comes to us. It’s amazing such a good player is with us and he comes to a winning side - a side that won the last two matches in the FA Cup final and the Community Shield. So he has to work hard to come to the team.”

Pogba will have to work for his place - Mourinho

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says Paul Pogba will have to fight for a starting berth at the club.

Paul Pogba will have to work for his place in the Manchester United first team, manager Jose Mourinho has claimed ahead of the midfielder's impending arrival.
France international Pogba is expected to complete a world record transfer from Juventus in the coming days after United confirmed he would undergo a medical.
And speaking after a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the Community Shield, Mourinho declared his delight at having finally captured the 23-year-old, who departed Old Trafford on a free in 2012.
"I think so, finally," Mourinho told BT Sport when asked if the Pogba deal was done.
"It is amazing that such a good player is with us. Finally we have him and he is coming to a winning side.
"He has to work hard to come to the team."
Jesse Lingard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored United's goals at Wembley, sending them into their Premier League opener against Bournemouth on the back of Mourinho's first piece of silverware.

Finally! Paul Pogba set for Man Utd medical

Manchester United are on the brink of re-signing Paul Pogba from Juventus in a world record £89m deal.

United will pay 105m euros for Pogba and performance-related bonuses and other costs could see that figure rise.

The midfielder will have a medical in the next few days with the deal due to be completed in midweek.

The 23-year-old, who left United for £1.5m in 2012, is set to return for a fee that surpasses Gareth Bale's £85m move to Real Madrid in 2013.

The Old Trafford club still have to agree personal terms with the France midfielder, although that is expected to be a formality.

Pogba's imminent medical was announced just over 90 minutes before the Community Shield, which United won 2-1 against Leicester.

Speaking to BT Sport after the game, United boss Jose Mourinho said: "It's amazing that such a good player is with us. Finally we have him.

"He comes to a winning side - a team which has won their last two matches, in the FA Cup final and today. He has to work hard to get in the team."

In four seasons in Turin, Pogba, who helped France reach the Euro 2016 final, won four league titles.

He is Mourinho's fourth signing at United, after Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

It is the first time in 20 years an English club will have paid a world record fee.

Newcastle United were the last to do so when they spent £15m signing England striker Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers.

Pogba joined United from French club Le Havre in 2009 as a 16-year-old, but made just a handful of appearances before his contract expired in July 2012.

He has made 178 appearances for Juventus, scoring 34 goals, and helped the club reach the 2015 Champions League final. The Serie A side had offered him a new contract, while Real Madrid were also interested in signing him.

Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, also represents striker Ibrahimovic, who signed for United on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain, and midfielder Mkhitaryan, who joined from Borussia Dortmund.

In August 2011, then United manager Six Alex Ferguson described Pogba as a "young boy" who was "showing great promise".

He said: "If we hold Pogba back, what's going to happen? He's going to leave. So we have to give him the opportunity to see how he can do in the first team and he's got great ability, plus he's got the physique and athleticism."

However, later that year, with Paul Scholes retired, Owen Hargreaves leaving and Darren Fletcher injured, Brazilian full-back Rafael was preferred to Pogba in midfield, a decision the Frenchman later said "disgusted" him.

Scholes came out of retirement aged 37 in January 2012, and Pogba said: "I didn't want to sign a contract as Ferguson didn't play me, even though there were no midfielders there.

"I was frustrated because he spoke to me a few times and said I was nearly there. When I saw Scholes come back, part of me was really happy as he's a legend, but I knew it was the end of me."

Pogba left United when his contract expired, with the Red Devils receiving a £1.5m fee as compensation.

In his second autobiography, Ferguson said he "distrusted" Pogba's agent, Raiola, describing their first meeting as a "fiasco".

"He and I were like oil and water," said the Scot. "From then on, our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to ingratiate himself with Paul and his family and the player signed with Juventus."

Juventus full-back Patrice Evra, who was at United with Pogba, said the club initially "underestimated" his France team-mate.

Speaking in 2014, he said: "I went to talk to him and spent two hours with his parents and his brothers to discuss his future, even though I'm just a player.

"I said, 'Here in Manchester you will become a legend. Be patient'. I tried to tie him up. I even tried to put him in padlocks. But, no, he'd already made his choice."