Manchester United star Paul Pogba says he DID lose focus after World Cup 2018 win… and has dig at Jose Mourinho over captaincy snub
France midfielder returned to Old Trafford and fell out with his manager after failing to replicate national team form
PAUL POGBA admits he DID lose focus after winning the World Cup - as Jose Mourinho warned he might.
The Manchester United manager watched France midfielder Pogba triumph in Russia and said: "I don’t think it’s about us getting the best out of him. It’s about him giving the best he has to give.
"I think the World Cup is the perfect habitat for a player like him to give the best.
"During a season, you can have a big match then a smaller match, then one even smaller, then you can lose your focus, you can lose your concentration, then comes a big match again."
Pogba, 25, has warred with Mourinho since returning from the World Cup a seemingly different player.
And he now admits: "It’s hard to concentrate, to start again, to hit hard, because we touched the stars.
“For us, it was the best trophy you can win as a footballer."
The ugly row which has marred Pogba's season has forced him to reconsider his future at Old Trafford.
Barcelona and Juventus would both love to sign him.
But Pogba - who today showed off his new lightning bolt haircut - appears to have ruled out a January exit, saying: "We like challenges too, we have goals.
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"For example, I’ve never won the Premier League, that’s an objective. I’d like to do that.”
Pogba's relationship with Mourinho hit rock-bottom after a public training ground row last month.
It came after the Portuguese told his midfielder he would never captain United again.
But Pogba, speaking ahead of France's friendly against Iceland and Uefa Nations League clash against Germany, insists he does not need the armband to be a leader.
The former Juve star said: "I've never played in the France team to be captain, being here is already a big thing for me.
"You don't have to be captain in order to speak, a leader is not someone who has the armband.
"As a leader you can talk on the pitch but I've seen leaders who didn't necessarily talk."
France boss Didier Deschamps reckons Pogba and Mourinho DO have some issues to work out, but that their feud has been blown out of proportion.
SunSport revealed how Pogba inspired United's sensational fightback against Newcastle on Saturday after Mourinho consulted him on tactics.
Deschamps said: "I think that [the row] is exaggerated. Maybe you didn't watch the last game because I saw a great Paul Pogba.
"I think that Jose Mourinho saw the same thing as me. Some things happened, and I think that like often, we make a big deal of maybe not so much.
"It's true that there are some facts, and some may have jumped to certain conclusions.
"When I see how Paul behaves towards his current club situation some may say that he's done everything he could mentally and when it comes to his individual performances to help the club."
Deschamps added: "There is no issue with Paul. I don't want to be mixed up with anything and to interfere with any player's relationship with their coach."