Pogba praises Solskjaer for turnaround

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was jauntily encouraging when talking about the effect Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had on the club.

Since Solskjaer returned to the club from Molde he has done little to show that he does not deserve a longer chance. The manager has won his first five league games, equaling a record set by legendary manager Sir Matt Busby, and also has won his first six games in all competitions, an achievement held by him alone.

Pogba was at the heart of the action in United’s 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday at Wembley. He set up the only goal of the game with a long ball for Marcus Rashford’s run, and after the game praised Jose Mourinho’s replacement.

Pogba said: “It’s a pleasure to be reunited with him. I knew him from the Academy and the reserves, when his nickname was ‘SuperSub’. He is doing a really good job.

“As a player he knew the mentality of this club. He has come back to help us and it is going very well. The season is long so let’s see how it goes.”

“I am playing a bit further forward. I have more security behind me, it gives me the freedom to go forwards to try to get into the box and support the strikers.

“Before the coach arrived I was in the shadows, on the bench, and I accepted that. It is a pleasure to play again. That’s normal. Now I am always smiling.”

Fellow forward Jesse Lingard said: “It keeps the confidence going and we focus on the next game. It was always going to be a test. It’s a massive win.

“We’re very organised. We want to attack, we want to make those runs forward. The midfielders are running forward and we’re putting other teams under pressure. It’s working and we need to carry it on.

So there we are. Give him the job.