Manchester United player Paul Pogba has struggled for starts in recent weeks but Juan Mata has backed him to rediscover his best form. Paul Pogba has made just one start in Manchester United’s last four games. Juan Mata believes he can ‘support’ Paul Pogba after he was dropped and expects United to improve when the World Cup winner gets his season back on track. United’s record signing has started just one of the last four games and was an unused substitute in the 4-1 win against Fulham on Saturday, with Marcos Rojo, Fred and Scott McTominay all coming on instead.
Pogba’s relationship with Jose Mourinho has repeatedly come under scrutiny in 2018 and the United boss stripped Pogba of the second captain role in September after he undermined him one time too many with his comments to the press. Mourinho confirmed Pogba will start in United’s final Champions League group game against Valencia on Wednesday night and implored the 25-year-old to match ‘the mentality of the team’ when he returns to the first XI. And Mata, who has had his own spells on the bench this season, has backed his team-mate to deliver.
“Well, I think we all have better or worse moments in our career, our season,” he told reporters at the Mestalla Stadium. “As a team-mate, obviously, what I can do from my side is support him and I’m sure he will keep showing how good a player he is and how nice a guy he is.”We know Paul is looking forward to playing good, to do the best for the team and try to perform at his level because we all know when he does that he is a fantastic midfielder. “As a team-mate obviously what I want is he can play very good and I wish he can play at his best level because if he plays good the team will improve.”
Paul Pogba will leave big boots to fill but Manchester United have the squad to cope against Manchester City, says Juan Mata. Both sides may have to do without key midfielders in this Sunday’s Manchester derby, live on Sky Sports Premier League, with David Silva potentially missing through injury and Pogba suspended. Mata laughed at suggestions of mind games from City, saying “we know about that” when asked about Silva, but did not disguise the impact Pogba’s absence could have on United.
