Paul Pogba was sent on after just 17 minutes of Manchester United’s Champions League last 16, first leg against Sevilla on Wednesday having been left out of the starting line-up by manager Jose Mourinho.
The French midfielder, back in the squad after illness kept him out of United’s weekend FA Cup win at Huddersfield Town, replaced Ander Herrera, who was forced off injured.
Pogba has come in for criticism from Mourinho for his recent performances, with the arrival of Alexis Sanchez in the January transfer window raising doubts as to whether the two can play together in the same team.
Asked about his selection decision in a British television interview prior to the game, Mourinho said: “I don’t say so much tactically. We are playing with three midfield players and Paul could play perfectly in this role.
“But Paul created some doubts by not playing on Saturday, by not playing by his own decision — he was not feeling good, and created some doubts.”
Mourinho opted to select Scott McTominay, 21, alongside Herrera and Nemanja Matic in his starting line-up in midfield for the game in Spain.
AFP
