“The [best] way is to go out there and prove people wrong and go show them you can adapt, change and prove that what Manchester United paid is worth it” – Paul Parker
Paul Pogba should focus on proving doubters wrong amid reports of disquiet with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, says Paul Parker.
Reports have indicated Pogba is disgruntled by the position he is being played in by Mourinho, while others have reported the midfielder, who has struggled to impress in his recent displays, is a target for Real Madrid.
Mourinho launched a staunch defence of his relationship with the club-record signing last Friday and described the speculation as “lies”, but Parker has called on Pogba to demonstrate his ability and return to his best form.
“What he said when he re-signed was ‘I am back to prove people wrong’,” Parker told Said.
“That should be his ethos now – to go out there and do it. The papers are talking about how he is telling Manchester United and Mourinho what he wants to do.
“Those kind of headlines shouldn’t be there. People are either making it up or he has kind of said that to somebody and it has got out.
“His point should be I won’t to prove people wrong. He has come for a lot of money, the easy road out is to come out and say ‘I am not happy and I want this and that’.
“The [best] way is to go out there and prove people wrong and go show them you can adapt, change and prove that what Manchester United paid is worth it because you are not a one-trick pony.”
Pogba, who has not played a full 90 minutes since their 1-0 league win against Burnley on January 20, was absent from Manchester United’s 2-0 victory at Huddersfield in the FA Cup fifth round through illness with United next in league action against Chelsea on Sunday.
Mourinho acknowledged in his pre-match press conference last week that Pogba preferred to play on the left of a midfield three in a 4-3-3 formation, whereas many argue he has been playing in a deep midfield role as part of a 4-2-3-1 this season.
When asked where Pogba is at his most influential, Parker said: “When I have seen him his best position was with Juventus and with France on the left of a midfield three and with not too much [defensive] responsibility.
“We have seen him struggle with the defensive and positional sense but [that changes when] you ask him to go into the attacking areas.
“His feet are quick and he has a very good head on his shoulders in those areas because he can cross a ball better than most in the world when he gets in those areas.
“I sometimes think could he go and play that role around the centre forward when he doesn’t have to worry too much about that discipline to help the fellow midfield player.”
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