Paul Pogba was amiss in the Manchester United squad that won at Huddersfield in the FA Cup on Saturday after reportedly pulling out with illness. The player returned during the week to prepare for the Red Devils’ trip to Sevilla and was expected to be an integral part of the set-up considering the magnitude of the opponent the English club faces.
However, Jose Mourinho dropped the former Juventus man who has been out of sorts in recent times to the bench. The Portuguese manager replaced him with academy graduate, Scott McTominay, in a three-man midfield featuring Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic.
The change has overtly caused some unhappy fans to react to Jose Mourinho’s decision. Here are some of the tweets:
Mourinho says a player 'must feel 100%' while discussing Pogba's bench role, yet he is playing Herrera, who has been injured in recent weeks, for the first time this month. His explanation just does not add up. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) February 21, 2018
I get that Pogba has played poorly in recent weeks, but this is Manchester United’s first Champions League knockout game in four years and you need big players who can produce quality for the occasion. Also disappointing that Luke Shaw hasn’t even made the squad.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) February 21, 2018
Dropping Paul Pogba in possibly our biggest match of the season is ridiculous. We bought Paul Pogba for games like this. If he’s 100% fit and over his illness, it’s an absolute joke.
— The Man Utd Way (@TheManUtdWay) February 21, 2018
Honestly there was no point buying Sanchez if you’re going to ruin arguably our best player of the season (Martial) and make Pogba, one of our only world class players, feel like he’s not a pivotal part of this side. Without both we are a medicore team. #mufc
— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) February 21, 2018
Jose Mourinho finally using the 4-3-3 but not picking Paul Pogba in it is pretty strong work. A man who draws his own battle lines.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) February 21, 2018
So Mourinho kept playing Pogba in a 2, Pogba ‘apparently’ asked him to switch to a 3, Mourinho benches him and plays the 3. Digging his own grave.
— BM (@IconicUnited) February 21, 2018