Former Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy has laid into Paul Pogba on Sky Sports after a poor Champions League performance against Valencia. Bellamy was keen to criticise the Frenchman and single him out on The Debate.
“Pogba was poor again tonight.
“Mourinho isn’t getting the best out of Pogba, that’s clear. There is a lack of interest from Pogba. His performance in Valencia was concerning.
“I’m not sure if he is as good as a lot of people make out.
“There’s a massive game on Sunday, Liverpool versus Manchester United is the biggest game in the Premier League between the teams who have won the most trophies, an incredible fixture.”
Bellamy is right too, this is a big game for Liverpool’s season whilst United will be trying to knock Liverpool off their perch at the top of the Premier League. However, Mourinho’s team selection will be incredibly interesting after a poor run of performances from some of his big name players.
United’s 4-1 win over Fulham came with Pogba sat on the bench and his recent performances have not merited a start according to Bellamy:
“If you’re Mourinho, after Pogba’s performance today, it will be very difficult to say he has to play, he has to leave him out again.
“Usually, these kind of performances convince the manager he would be of use in games like the one on Sunday, but going off the back of the performance in Valencia that is not the case.
“We get reminded that Pogba won the World Cup every time we talk about him, but for a player that is used to playing in big games, he doesn’t look like he’s improving, he’s going backwards.”
United travel to Anfield on Sunday looking to pull off an unlikely result. Mourinho has some way to go to turn this United team around with a top four finish looking unlikely, the Red Devils will be putting greater emphasis on the Champions League.