Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes some honest discussions between himself and Paul Pogba have helped Manchester United see the best of the midfielder over the past month. And Solskjaer has revealed his relationship with Pogba remains strong despite the speculation surrounding his future this season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said “Paul does a job to get himself fit and play football. My job is to be open and honest with him and give him my advice and I’ve never had a problem with him. I talk openly and directly with Paul. I’m not going to tell anyone what my advice to him is but I have always had a good relationship with him. He comes from a great family, he’s very understandable, he’s a very sensible boy and he knows what I’m talking about when we speak. He’s honest with me as well. He’s upfront and honest with me too. And what people don’t see with Paul is even when he isn’t playing he’s contributed loads in the background. Sometimes he’s even acted as the interpreter between me and different players – even when he isn’t playing. He always respects my decisions and we’ve always had a very good working relationship.”
Pogba is producing his best football for United in at least two years, despite the comments of agent Mino Raiola six weeks ago seeming to further fracture the relationship between his camp and the club. On the eve of United’s final Champions League group game in December Raiola said Pogba was “unhappy” at Old Trafford and he “can no longer express himself as he wants to”, but those comments have coincided with the 27-year-old’s return to form and prominence at the club.
Solskjaer has been praised for the way he’s handled the situation and rather than closing the door on Pogba after Raiola’s comments, he has extracted his best football, with the World Cup winner becoming an increasingly integral cog in a United side competing for the Premier League title. Pogba has started six of United’s last seven games and nine of 12 since the defeat in Leipzig. His stunning winner at Craven Cottage on Wednesday was the second time he’d decided a game in United’s favour in just over a week.
