Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed that he would prefer to play in a more advanced role at the club and believes his current position is ‘costing’ him.
After four years with Juventus having left United on a free transfer, the French international developed into one of the top midfielders in world football.
Playing alongside the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, he was deployed in a more advanced position by the Bianconeri for the most part but has now been asked to play deeper following his move back to Manchester.
“I try to adapt,” Pogba told the Manchester Evening News. “I am a player who would rather go forward.
“The coach gave me instructions, I try to follow them. I have to retrieve balls and make defensive efforts.
“It cost me a bit to play differently, much like [Andrea] Pirlo. I have to play, be there to recover and play more for the team.”
Pogba has scored just one goal in six Premier League appearances so far this season, although he was guilty of missing several great chances in the 1-1 draw with Stoke City prior to the international break and should have added to his tally.
Nevertheless, there were also times in that game where his forays into Stoke territory left United desperately short in midfield, and those kind of errors in judgement could lead to problems against better opposition.
Having impressed in a deep position for France against the Netherlands in a 1-0 win for Les Bleus in Amsterdam on Monday night, he’ll now hope to carry that type of form into the showdown with Liverpool on Monday night.
However, it doesn’t sound as though he’s all too pleased with having to limit his offensive game, but if he wishes to stay in the United line-up then ultimately he’ll have to adapt and listen to what Mourinho asks of him.