Football: Mourinho challenges Pogba to replicate his World Cup form in the Premier League

The Manchester United gaffer, Jose Mourinho praised the performances of Paul Pogba in the late stages of the World Cup and hopes he can replicate his form in the Premier League.

Pogba was the one to score the 3rd goal for Les Bleus in Sunday’s 4-2 win over Croatia in the final.

The 25-year-old midfielder excelled midway into the tournament and the spectacle of him shining on the biggest stage was the exact opposite of an irritable season which he had under Mourinho at Old Trafford.

Pogba found himself left on the bench for both legs of the Champions League last-16 defeat to Sevilla and was withdrawn during losses to Tottenham and Newcastle United, as speculation mounted over a crack-up in relations with his manager.

Mourinho confirmed that he passed on congratulatory messages to Pogba and hailed his performances while speaking at his first news conference of Manchester United’s pre-season United States tour.

The United boss now challenges Pogba to replicate his World Cup form in the Premier League.

“I hope that he understands why he was very good,” Mourinho said.

“I think that’s the point about his performance level and his contribution to a winning team – for him to understand why he was so good, especially in the second part of the competition.

“In the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final he was absolutely brilliant.”

Mourinho added: “To win the World Cup can only be a positive thing. It’s difficult to say that to win the World Cup is not good for a player’s career. So many good players never have the change to be a world champion.

“It’s a young [France] team, apart from [Olivier] Giroud, [Hugo] Lloris and a few others they are all young and have more years to play together.

“The future for [Pogba] in the French national team, among that fantastic group of players, can only be brilliant.”

Mourinho claimed he was uncertain whether there would be further incomings to Old Trafford before the 2018-19 season gets underway in less than 4 weeks’ time.

“I have no idea, I’m not going to lie to you,” he said. “I’m not going to say something is coming. I’m not going to say nobody is coming. I really don’t know.”

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