Manchester: Paul Pogba has the qualities to be captain of Manchester United, according to caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has overseen a dramatic return to form for the World Cup winner.
The France midfielder was told in September by then-manager Jose Mourinho that he would never captain the club again, days after an apparent disagreement over tactics.
Mourinho denied at the time that there had been any fallout between the pair, having taken the decision to strip Pogba of his role as Man United vice-captain. However the rift became public a few days later.
Pogba, who performed erratically for his club over the first half of the season, has scored five goals in six appearances since Solskjaer arrived as interim boss December 19. The Norwegian said that he has long believed Pogba has what it takes to lead a team, although he clarified that he is happy with United’s current set-up, with Ashley Young the regular captain on the pitch while Antonio Valencia, who has made just eight appearances this season, is the club captain.
“I know the boy from before, and he’s a leader,” Solskjaer said ahead of his team’s FA Cup fourth-round match Friday against Arsenal. “He’s a character who influences people. He cares and wants to be successful.
“He knows he can’t do it by himself. It’s a team game and he’s a character who brings so many good things with him when he’s enjoying himself, I have to say. You see the personality. He loves playing football. He’s a larger-than-life character. That’s just the way he is,” added Solskjaer.
Pogba has faced criticism in the past for his enthusiastic use of social media. Solskjaer, though, says he is not worried about the way that players such as Pogba and teammate Jesse Lingard use social media.
“It’s part of the era we live in,” he said. “That’s just society now, that’s what they’re used to. I’m not, but they are. And it’s all positive, it’s all good messages and I don’t have any problem with that.”
AP