Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1116643
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 MAY 2019 21 SPORTS SNOOKER Man Utd's Pogba problem PAUL Pogba may not be the only prob- lem with Manchester United but he is being held up by many as the biggest one, as a flagbearer of why the club is failing so badly. Tempers boiled over at Old Trafford after Manchester United lost to Cardiff on the final day of the Premier League - with Pogba facing the anger of fans in the stands. Despite being their top-scorer this sea- son with 16 goals in all competitions, much of the blame for United's poor campaign has fallen on Pogba's shoulders and the Frenchman reacted to seemingly being heckled by a small number of sup- porters during the club's lap of honour at Old Trafford. Pogba remains a global star though as was even voted into the Team of the Year by his fellow professionals - so why is he such a divisive figure? Adjusting to the Mourinho way The first signs of Pogba struggling to adapt to Mourinho's system emerged in United's 2-1 Premier League home defeat to rivals Manchester City in September 2016. TV pundit Jamie Carragher called Pogba's performance "ill-disciplined", saying he was "like a kid in the schoolyard, running where he wants and doing what he wants". Rift with Mourinho While Pogba said Mourinho "trusted and defended me" in the 2016-17 season, their relationship looked to be becoming increasingly strained by the midway point of the following campaign. From a heated debate between the pair on the Wembley touchline during a 2-0 defeat to Totten- ham in January 2018, they were said to be "barely on speaking terms" a couple of months later. Further rancour Mourinho suggested Pogba was unable to be distracted by external matters dur- ing the World Cup due to the short na- ture of the tournament. Despite returning late from the World Cup, Pogba started and captained United in their opening match of the 2018-19 season - scoring in a 2-1 win against Leicester in August 2018. But he said after the game that "there are things I cannot say, otherwise I will get fined". The following month, re- ports emerged before the Carabao Cup tie against Derby that Mourinho told Pogba in front of the squad he will never captain United again as he does not embody what the club is about. Pogba was rested for the Derby game and Mourinho said af- terwards he had taken the vice-captaincy away from the midfielder. Fallout with some fans Pogba's prolific performances gave way to more anonymous showings as Unit- ed's campaign came to a disappointing conclusion. A 2-0 defeat at home to rel- egated Cardiff on the final day of the sea- son seemed to be the final straw for some United fans as they engaged in a heated confrontation with Pogba, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer. Paul Pogba: Manchester United midfielder reacts to their defeat to Cardiff