Pogba Comes Full Circle

Paul Pogba is set to face Stoke this Sunday, four-and-a-half years after making his Premier League debut for Manchester United against the Potters as a teenager...

When it comes to Premier League opponents, Stoke are as familiar as it gets for Paul Pogba so far. It was against the Potters that Pogba made his league debut for Manchester United as an 18-year-old in 2012, replacing Javier Hernandez as a 72nd-minute substitute.

Sir Alex Ferguson said afterwards that Pogba was a "great talent with tremendous physique", but just a few months later he left Old Trafford to join Juventus.

Ahead of Man Utd v Stoke on Sunday, we look at what happened on Pogba's debut, who he played alongside and what happened next...

The situation

Having progressed through the United academy, it was in the 2011/12 season that Pogba was promoted to the senior team for the first time, making his debut in a League Cup match in September against Leeds.

He would play twice more in the competition before his league debut against Stoke.

United were, on the day, beset by injuries. They were without 11 players, including Wayne Rooney, and third-choice keeper Ben Amos made his Premier League debut.

But they were very much in the title race, three points behind Manchester City with 22 games played. They would draw level by the end of night as City were beaten by Everton and penalties from Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov gave United a 2-0 victory over Stoke.

It was Hernandez who Pogba replaced in the 72rd minute…

Pogba's performance

Was it nervous energy, excitement or the cold? Perhaps it was a combination of all three that had Pogba jiggling around on the sideline, rubbing his gloves together as he waited for Hernandez to make way.

Whatever the cause, the 18-year-old showed few signs of nerves on the pitch in a bright cameo display.

Playing in the middle of the pitch, he looked composed as he sent passes round the corner, laid off for team-mates and slid into tackles. He also drifted out to the right on several occasions and put some testing crosses into the six-yard box.

The highlight perhaps was when he bamboozled both Dean Whitehead and Andy Wilkinson with a clever turn after the ball was played into his feet. His technique, presence and athleticism made him stand out.

Some fans said the 18-minute cameo was the best debut showing since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003/04. Even Sir Alex Ferguson was impressed.

"Pogba did very well," said Ferguson. "The boy has great talent and tremendous physique for an 18-year-old. You can't believe it.

"We are negotiating his contract at the moment. It is a bit complicated because he has changed his agent a couple of times.

"But the boy wants to stay, that is obvious. Hopefully, we can get it done soon."

What happened next?

Despite Ferguson's declaration that Pogba wanted to stay, he would in fact leave for Juventus that summer when his contract expired.

He would get three more opportunities in the first team before departing, playing against West Brom, Athletic Bilbao and Wolves, all in March.

Pogba later said he didn't sign a contract because he didn't play enough, "even though there were no midfielders there".

"When I saw (Paul) Scholes come back part of me was really happy as he's a legend, but I knew it was the end for me," he added, referring to Scholes coming out of retirement in January.

Scholes later said that Pogba did not play well to deserve a regular place in the team, even though "we all knew there was a very good player in the making".

His team-mates

Pogba would not be the only player in the matchday squad against Stoke to leave that summer.

Park Ji-Sung and Dimitar Berbatov would both depart Old Trafford while Amos is yet to make another Premier League appearance despite Ferguson saying he showed "great potential".

Some, like Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick remain at the club, and others, like Ryan Giggs, Scholes and Rio Ferdinand, were in the twilight of their careers.

Among those who started on the bench with Pogba were brothers Fabio and Rafael as well as Will Keane, now at Hull, and Danny Welbeck.

Four Serie A titles later, and with the tag of the world's most expensive player, Pogba is back to face Stoke again. Although probably not on the bench this time...

Credit: Skysports.com

Raiola: Mourinho Wanted Paul Pogba At Chelsea Last Season

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was targeted by Jose Mourinho for Chelsea last year but was blocked by an agreement between his agent Mino Raiola and Juventus, according to Raiola himself.

Pogba, who left United for free to join Juventus in 2012 at the age of 18, returned to Old Trafford in a world-record £89m deal earlier this summer.

But the 23-year-old's agent revealed on Thursday that a potential deal with Chelsea was delayed by an agreement with Raiola and the Italian club that he could leave if they won the Serie A title and Champions League.

But Raiola told Rai Sport: "Paul could have left [Juventus] last year because Mourinho - then at Chelsea - really wanted him.

"But Juventus and I had agreement: win the league title and the Champions League, then he can go."

Juventus claimed a record-equalling fifth consecutive Serie A title last season but their progress in the Champions League was ended at the quarter-finals stage by Bayern Munich.

Raiola, meanwhile, said Pogba can expect a present from Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis because his transfer to United prepared the way for Juve to buy striker Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli for 90m euros.

He added: "De Laurentiis should be giving Paul a present, because without his departure Juventus would never have bought Higuain, and he would never have been able to bank all that money."

Credit: Skysports.com

Manchester United 1-0 Zorya Luhansk: Five Talking Points

Zlatan Ibrahimovic got the breakthrough goal for Manchester United as they battled past Zorya Luhansk to pick up their first Europa League points of the season.

The 1-0 win over the Ukrainian outfit wasn't always fluent but it is a third win in a row for Jose Mourinho's men.

Here, we pick out five talking points from the game…

Chemistry in attack

If the 4-1 win over Leicester last weekend was a step forward for Mourinho in establishing the right balance in attack, this performance raised more questions than it answered for the United boss. The urgency shown against the Premier League champions was sorely lacking.

It was a reminder that not all of United's deficiencies can be pinned on Wayne Rooney. Indeed, the goal only came once the captain was introduced to replace Jesse Lingard - his miscued shot after earning space in the box finding its way to the head of Ibrahimovic.

Juan Mata's clever slide pass forged the chance. That the Spaniard made it from the right flank having moved from the centre to accommodate Rooney shows that there are options for Mourinho in those attacking slots. He may need to keep tweaking to find the best blend.

Herrera missed

The only change among the front six from the Leicester game was the exclusion of Ander Herrera, presumably rested to prepare for Stoke on Sunday, and the midfielder's reputation was further enhanced by his absence. His dynamism in midfield is a much-needed asset.

Marouane Fellaini has featured regularly under Mourinho so far but he doesn't possess the pace or the penetrative passing of Herrera and against a packed Zorya defence it didn't help United to break through the lines. Expect to see Herrera back at the weekend.

Carrick ignored

Given the total domination that United enjoyed, it was tempting to think Michael Carrick would have been a better bet than Fellaini in that holding role. The 35-year-old has started only one game since the Community Shield - scoring in the cup win over Northampton.

That performance was an indication that Carrick still has something to offer but Mourinho appears reluctant to use him. Given his age, it's understandable that United should look elsewhere for solutions but there's still a suspicion they're missing a trick in the short term.

Rojo weak link

One thing that Mourinho will be feeling certain that he's got right is the decision to turn to Daley Blind as his left-back in the absence of Luke Shaw. Even in a game in which United were seldom tested, Marcos Rojo managed to look unconvincing.

A feeble attempt to tackle Oleksandr Karavayev could have proven costly if the Zorya man's right-wing cross had found Zeljko Ljubenovic at the far post. Mourinho may want specialists in every position, but Rojo's flaws are a reminder of why Blind's flexibility is so useful.

Momentum restored

This wasn't a display to inspire but it was a third win in a row. It's the second time that United have gone on such a run under Mourinho but last time that happened they promptly embarked on a sequence of three straight defeats.

With Premier League games against Stoke and Liverpool coming up, United can't afford a repeat of that. They have the quality in the squad to prevent it, but finding the right chemistry to really convince remains a work in progress for their manager.

Credit: Skysports.com

Fosu-Mensah On The Rise

Tim Fosu-Mensah stressed the three points were the most important thing after Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Zorya Luhansk in the Europa League but he enjoyed getting more minutes under his belt.

The Dutch youngster played his second game of the season following his start at Northampton Town in the EFL Cup, when he hit the bar, and was on the pitch for 74 minutes, crossing in the lead-up to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's winner, as the Reds kept the momentum going following last weekend's win over Leicester City.

"It’s important to get the three points," he told MUTV. "We lost in Holland [to Feyenoord] and it was a must-win game for us.

"The last game at home against Leicester we did very well. Our attitude was very good and we wanted to maintain that and that’s what we did tonight.

"I’m feeling better and better," he added. "As a footballer, you just want to play football. When you play football, you feel happy. I played against Northampton and I played today and I feel happy."

The 18-year-old spoke highly of some of his team-mates for helping him to become a better player. "I listen to the players," he explained. "Wazza [Wayne Rooney], Carrers [Michael Carrick], the more senior players like Zlatan. I listen to them a lot and they help me to develop into a better player. I also speak very well with Chris [Smalling], he's a good guy and he helps me a lot as well."

Fosu-Mensah also cast his eye forward to the weekend’s clash with Stoke City at Old Trafford by saying: "I think we are in good form, in good shape and we want to keep winning."

Mourinho Reacts To Win Over Zorya

Jose Mourinho believes Manchester United's 1-0 victory over Zorya Luhansk was vital, as the Reds look to progress to the knock-out stages of the Europa League.

Here are the main points from the manager's post-match press conference, as well as interviews with MUTV and BT Sport and click on the image above to watch his chat with the official club channel in full...

VICTORY IS VITAL
"Yeah, it was difficult. We had our chances in the first half, we could obviously score and have a different match, but we didn't. All the time, they [Zorya] stayed very well organised with lots of people behind the ball. The danger was hidden but they were always ready to do something on the counter-attack. The game was difficult but it was important to win."

STAYING GROUNDED
"One week - three defeats, another week - three victories. I was not depressed by the three defeats and I'm not over the moon after three victories. We have another game on Sunday [against Stoke] and that's now the most important one."

STRENGTH IN DEPTH
"Well, since the first minute, I was waiting for the goal and it was never arriving. You never know what can happen and, to be honest, [Sergio] Romero made a good save when it was still 0-0. We always thought we could win and I had players on the bench to help me change the game. I played three of them and could have played others; my bench was full of attacking options. [Anthony] Martial gave us different speed in a moment when the opposition was getting a bit tired."

ROONEY'S CONTRIBUTION
"He was laughing and said he made a great assist. He gave me what the team needed at the time, which was a second presence in the box. He's more of a striker than Juan [Mata], and Juan went more to the right-hand side [when Wayne came on]. We started the game with a very good team, and I also had players on the bench to give me solutions for everything."

IBRA IMPACT
"He's a tremendous player. Even if he's not scoring goals, the dynamic he brings to the team, the movement and the leadership in attacking organisation, no-one can believe his age. What matters is the quality, and the quality is amazing."

INJURY UPDATE
"Let's see tomorrow [about injuries], but normally yes, normally we have almost everyone in a condition to play. Of course, Phil Jones has a long-term injury.

FOCUSING ON STOKE
"It will be a very difficult match [against Stoke], the truth is not where they are in the table; they have a good team and a good manager. I don't look at the table, I look at their quality."

Europa League: Man. United 1 Zorya Luhansk 0

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s second-half goal was enough to give Manchester United a crucial Europa League victory over Zorya Luhansk on Thursday evening.

The Reds were frustrated for long periods of the game but found the all-important breakthrough 20 minutes from time, as the striker headed home at the back post.

Jose Mourinho had stressed the importance of winning the game in his pre-match press conference, and delivered on his promise to start the Swede, with Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and in-form Marcus Rashford also included in a strong United line-up.

Following last weekend’s dismantling of Leicester City at the Theatre of Dreams, the Reds again played with intent from the off, but it was the Zorya’s Zeljko Ljubenovic who registered the game’s first effort at goal in the fifth minute, a shot well blocked by Eric Bailly.

United were in total control of possession in the opening stages, though a notable chance for Mourinho’s men didn’t arrive until the 20-minute mark, when Ibrahimovic’s deflected effort from the edge of the box looped into the air and narrowly wide.

It was a close call which sparked some life into the Reds, and the deadlock was so nearly broken just moments later, when Pogba glanced Mata’s corner into the path of Rashford, whose powerful strike cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar.

During a half when chances were few and far between, neither side fashioned an opening again until the 38th minute, when Tim Fosu-Mensah regained possession for United on the edge of the Zorya area, but Mata couldn’t direct his header on target from Pogba’s cross.

Five minutes before the break, the Reds then had two half-opportunities in quick succession, as Zorya defender Rafael Forster stabbed the ball just wide of his own goal, before Fellaini’s header bounced up off the turf and over the top.

It meant the sides went in level at the interval, with the game finely poised ahead of an important 45 minutes.

HALF-TIME STATS:

Possession: United 75% Zorya 25%
Shots: United 7 Zorya 3
On target: United 0 Zorya 0
Corners: United 7 Zorya 2

The second period soon fell into a similar pattern, with the Ukrainian side looking to hit United on the break. They might have done so, had Ljubenovic made contact with team-mate Olexandr Karavaev’s delivery, but it was just beyond the midfielder’s reach. United, by contrast, were still dominating in terms of possession, without creating any real goalscoring chances.

The game’s first shot on target came just after the hour mark, when substitute Paulinho forced Sergio Romero into a routine save with a curling effort. It was a chance nonetheless, and one which prompted Mourinho into bringing on Wayne Rooney.

Moments after his introduction, the skipper was immediately involved in United’s opener, skewing an effort into the path of Ibrahimovic, who couldn’t miss with his header at the far post from close range. The goal - Zlatan's sixth since moving to Manchester in the summer - brought relief around Old Trafford.

Having kept the Reds at bay for so long, Zorya were visibly disappointed, and almost conceded again when Fellaini volleyed over with time running out. The away side had a late chance through Aleksandr Karavayev, but Romero saved comfortably to ensure a vital victory.

FULL-TIME STATS:

Possession: United 72% Zorya 28%
Shots: United 15 Zorya 8
On target: United 2 Zorya 1
Corners: United 9 Zorya 4

United: Romero; Fosu-Mensah (Martial 73), Bailly, Smalling, Rojo; Fellaini, Pogba; Lingard (Rooney 67), Mata (Young 73), Rashford; Ibrahimovic.

Substitutes not used: Johnstone, Carrick, Schneiderlin, Memphis.

Booked: Bailly.

Zorya: Shevchenko; Sivakov, Chaykovsky (Gordiyenko 80), Kamenyuka, Petriak, Kulach (Paulinho 59), Forster, Karavaev, Ljubenovic (Lipartia 76), Grechyshkin, Sobol

Substitutes not used: Chuvayev, Sukhotsky, Opanassenko, Chercher.

Booked: Kamenyuka

United Set For 100th European Opponent

Zorya Luhansk will become Manchester United’s 100th European opponent in tonight’s Europa League match, 60 years after Matt Busby’s Reds made history by facing Anderlecht in 1956.

That means our list of continental challengers is literally an A to Z of clubs and that remarkable coincidence is the focal point for this evening's edition of United Review at Old Trafford.

As you can see in the image above, the cover of our match programme includes all 100 opponents alongside a number of historic issues from previous European matches. Readers will also find inside a four-page feature that takes you on an alphabetical journey through this continental century.

Of course, United’s history in Europe began in 1956/57 when the club became the first-ever English side to enter the European Cup with Busby keen to test his title-winning Babes on a bigger stage.

That iconic Reds team made light work of first opponents Anderlecht, too, securing a 2-0 win in Belgium before triumphing 10-0 at Old Trafford in what remains the club’s biggest ever victory.

Jose Mourinho’s current United side would snap up a scoreline close to that historic success, after the manager admitted Thursday's match against Zorya is a “must-win” following the defeat at Feyenoord.

Fans can buy Thursday's edition of United Review, the matchday programme, at various kiosks around Old Trafford. Single copies and subscriptions are also available to order via ManUtd.com/programme. 

UNITED’S A TO Z OF EUROPEAN OPPONENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Anderlecht, Borussia Dortmund, Athletic Club, Real Madrid, Shamrock Rovers, Dukla Prague, Red Star Belgrade, AC Milan, Willem II, Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Lisbon, Djurgardens, Everton, RC Strasbourg, Ferencvaros, HJK Helsinki, ASK Vorwarts, Benfica, Partizan Belgrade, Hibernians, FK Sarajevo, Gornik Zabrze, Waterford, Rapid Vienna, Ajax, Juventus, Saint-Etienne, Porto, Widzew Lodz, Valencia, Spartak Varna, Barcelona, Raba Vasas, Dundee United, Videoton, Pecsi Munkas, Wrexham, Montpellier, Legia Warsaw, Athinaikos, Atletico Madrid, Torpedo Moscow, Kispest Honved, Galatasaray, IFK Gothenburg, Rotor Volgograd, Fenerbahce, Kosice, Feyenoord, AS Monaco, LKS Lodz, Bayern Munich, Brondby, Internazionale, Lazio, Croatia Zagreb, Sturm Graz, Olympique Marseille, Fiorentina, Bordeaux, Dynamo Kiev, PSV Eindhoven, Panathinaikos, Lille OSC, Deportivo La Coruna, Olympiacos, Boavista, Nantes, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Zalaegerszeg, Maccabi Haifa, Basel, Stuttgart, Rangers, Dinamo Bucharest, Olympique Lyonnais, Sparta Prague, Debreceni, Villarreal, Celtic, Copenhagen, AS Roma, Chelsea, Zenit St Petersburg, Aalborg, Arsenal, Besiktas, Wolfsburg, CSKA Moscow, Bursaspor, Schalke 04, Otelul Galati, CFR Cluj, SC Braga, Shakhtar Donetsk, Real Sociedad, Club Brugge, Midtjylland, Liverpool, Zorya Luhansk.

Credit: Manutd.com

Marcus Rashford, Dele Alli And Alex Iwobi Up For UEFA Award

Premier League trio Marcus Rashford, Dele Alli and Alex Iwobi have all been named on the 40-man shortlist for UEFA's Golden Boy award. 

UEFA's prize is awarded with regards to the performances of players under the age of 21 in a calendar year, with the winner decided by a panel of 30 journalists. 

Last year's winner was Manchester United forward Anthony Martial, while Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas are all previous winners. 

Rashford, 18, has been rewarded for his fine breakthrough year at Old Trafford and with England, notching eight goals in 15 appearances for United as well as his first senior international strike against Australia. 

Tottenham's Alli, 20, played an instrumental role in Spurs' title challenge last season, transitioning from League One football with MK Dons to the Premier League with consummate ease. 

Arsenal's Iwobi, 20, has come to the fore slower than his Premier League counterparts, but burst onto the scene during the 2015/16 season and has also played a part in the Gunners' recent unbeaten run.
 
The favourites for the 2016 edition of the award are Bayern Munich pair Kingsley Coman and Renato Sanches, though in addition to Rashford, Alli and Iwobi there are a further eight current representatives from British clubs. 

Manchester City's Kelechi Iheanacho and Leroy Sane, Celtic's Moussa Dembele, Liverpool's Marko Grujic, Leicester City's Demarai Gray, and Chelsea trio Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathan and Andreas Christensen are all rewarded for their form and performances by UEFA. 

Credit: Skysports.com

Bailly Excited By European Nights

The Europa League returns to Old Trafford with the visit of Zorya Luhansk and centre-back Eric Bailly is raring to go, having grown up watching Manchester United's European adventures from afar.

Our Player of the Month for August has made a fine start to his Reds career and is expected to start against the Ukrainians, who secured a 1-1 draw against Robin van Persie’s Fenerbahce in their opening Group A match. While the opposition are not among the competition's most recognisable teams, Bailly is motivated for action, especially after the 1-0 defeat at Feyenoord.

“I used to watch United play in the Champions League on TV,” Bailly told MUTV ahead of tonight’s match. “This is a bit different being with it being the Europa League but for sure we’ll give our best to bring another win to our fans. I’m really excited and looking forward to playing this game on Thursday.

“There are no weak teams in this competition, everyone has quality. If you look at the last game we played against Feyenoord that showed us that we need to pay careful attention to all the different teams. We’ll give our best to win at Old Trafford this time. We need to be wary of Zorya as their draw against Fenerbahce was a good result for them. They will try to come to Old Trafford to win the game. We have trained hard this week preparing for this game and we believe we can win it.”

Although Bailly is only 22 with less than 100 first-team matches to his name, he has good experience in the Europa League after reaching last season’s semi-finals with old club Villarreal. He was knocked out by beaten finalists Liverpool and thus hopes to go one stage further with United this campaign.

“Playing in the semi-final was something very special as that was the first time for me that I had succeeded in reaching such a round of a competition,” Eric told us. “Now I have more experience, this is the second time I have played in this competition and I hope that will help.

“If we keep working hard as a team and keep our spirit going I hope we can achieve the same or go even better and bring the trophy home. The first thing we need to do though is think step-by-step and take each game as it comes. We need to focus on the next game and then we’ll see what happens in the future.”

Jesse Values Zlatan's Support

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already shown his class on the pitch for Manchester United but he’s quickly become an invaluable figure off it, according to team-mate Jesse Lingard.

In typically flamboyant and confident style, Ibrahimovic has bagged five goals in his first nine appearances for the Reds but, for Lingard, the 34-year-old striker’s nurturing and leadership qualities are just as important to the squad.

"He’s been a leader for the team, especially when the captain’s not playing; he’s stepped up and he’s really led the team," Lingard told reporters on Wednesday.

"The young lads look up to him and most of the older lads do as well. We’ve seen what he’s done in his career and obviously he wants to win trophies for United as well.

"He helps the young lads a lot; he’s taught us, especially me, Marcus [Rashford], Paul Pogba and [Tim-Fosu] Mensah, and helped us through the games. If we’re going through a sticky patch, he’s always there for us and is always there for the team."

United manager Jose Mourinho has already confirmed Ibrahimovic will start Thursday’s Europa League clash against Zorya Luhansk and Lingard will also hope to be involved as the Reds target a first win in Group A, following Saturday’s confidence-boosting Premier League victory over champions Leicester City.

"We’ve done our research, we’ve watched videos on Zorya and we’ll be well prepared," Lingard told MUTV. "But first and foremost we think about us, our performance and our winning mentality.

"We need to get the three points but we know it’s going to be a difficult game. Hopefully we can perform like we did against Leicester."

Mata's Positive Outlook Paying Off

Juan Mata's positive outlook usually stands him in good stead and his refusal to be too downbeat after the recent bad run of form was clear to see in his outstanding display against Leicester City last time out.

The Spaniard scored a beautiful strike and set up Marcus Rashford's effort during the 4-1 victory over the champions as the Reds followed up the EFL Cup win at Northampton Town with three important points in the Premier League.

Ahead of the Zorya Luhansk encounter, Mata spoke to United Review, the official matchday programme, and was asked if his calm approach, illustrated in his weekly blog, has proved beneficial throughout his career.

"Well, I think it is how I feel about the best way to deal with things, especially bad situations and bad results," he said. "What I try to stress in the blog is to be positive and wait for good things. I think they will come if you work well and if you are honest in your work and do everything for the team.

"As a group of people, we’re trying to do our best to bring happiness to the fans and I think these good things will come. That is what I try to spread, to cheer the fans up when they perhaps don’t want to read a blog or see anything when we lose. Obviously, they just want to see us winning games but there is a way I can do something, through that post and message, to try to tell them how I feel. Thank you for your support and sorry for the bad moments but we will be happy together very soon for sure, like we were last weekend."

The Europa League clash with Zorya represents another opportunity to put on an impressive display before Stoke City provide the opposition at the weekend. The Ukrainians are second in their league behind dominant force Shakhtar Donetsk and played well in drawing 1-1 with Fenerbahce in their Group A opener.

"We know they are going to be tough," added Mata. "I guess they will be a very physical side but we know we have to win as, when we are playing away in Ukraine, the conditions will be very difficult. We want to be first in the group and, after getting no points at Feyenoord, we need the victory."

Mourinho Admits Sympathy For Allardyce Over Controversy

Jose Mourinho insists his relationship with Sam Allardyce will not change despite the controversy surrounding the former England manager.

Allardyce left his role with the national team on Tuesday evening after agreeing with the Football Association that comments he made to undercover Daily Telegraph reporters had left his position "untenable".

The 61-year-old said on Wednesday morning he was very upset having lasted just 67 days in a job he had craved for much of his career and speaking ahead of Manchester United's Europa League clash with FC Zorya Luhasnk, Mourinho admitted he had sympathy with the former West Ham boss.

"The only thing I can say is that I like Sam. I feel sorry for it because I know that was a dream job," he said.

"The second thing is that what happened is obviously not going to interfere in any way with my relationship with him.

"I liked him and I respected him before and that is not going to change. This is between him and the Football Association."

Credit: Skysports.com

Team News For Zorya Match

Jose Mourinho has discussed the availability of five key players ahead of Manchester United's Europa League match against Zorya Luhansk at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

Speaking to reporters at the pre-match press conference, the manager confirmed Luke Shaw did not train with his team-mates on Wednesday because the left-back was sent home to aid his recovery from illness.

"He’s ill," Mourinho told reporters, before expanding on Shaw's current state of fitness. "He has a temperature, a fever, a bad throat and he arrived this morning and immediately the doctor sent him home because one player like this in the middle of the other ones can affect others so he went home."

Asked whether Henrikh Mkhitaryan will make his first appearance since the Manchester derby on 10 September, Mourinho confirmed the summer signing will not feature against the Ukrainian visitors. However, the boss went on to reveal Anthony Martial is available for selection again after his recent injury.

"He has now recovered from the contusion in his calf and in his ankle," the boss said. "He has recovered and is ready for tomorrow."

Later in the press conference at the Aon Training Complex, Mourinho informed reporters that Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will definitely start on Thursday night in what will be a much stronger team than the one that started the 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord in Rotterdam earlier this month.
  
It remains to be seen whether Wayne Rooney will be named among the starters or substitutes against Zorya, after the captain sat out Tuesday's training session with a slight injury. 

"Wayne Rooney is selected," Mourinho said. "I haven't decided yet if I start with him. He didn’t train yesterday, he did just a little bit of the session on Monday. He had a back problem so today [Wednesday] was the first time that he had a training session with the other players and today is the training session where the intensity and the complexity is obviously reduced because we have a game tomorrow. 

"So I was completely convinced of playing him tomorrow from the beginning, but with this situation in the last couple of days I am not sure I’ll do that. Because with the situation that you create for him I think he really can’t afford to have a performance that is not really good. 

"I am here to protect him and not to put him in difficult situations. I have to analyse if the best thing for him is to start the game and if he is not totally ready for it. So I am going to discuss that with him and the medical staff and decide if he starts or if he is on the bench."

Mourinho: We Have To Beat Zorya

It’s only matchday two in the Europa League but Jose Mourinho already feels Thursday’s encounter with Zorya Luhansk is a must-win game for Manchester United.

United’s defeat to Feyenoord in the opening Group A game earlier this month, coupled with Zorya’s draw against Fenerbahce, means the Reds are playing catch-up going into the Old Trafford clash against the little-known Ukrainian side.

"To be honest, I think we have to win," Mourinho said at his pre-match press conference. "If we don’t win, I would say we’d have to win all the last four matches, which is difficult, so I think it is very important that we win this game."

Mourinho therefore confirmed he will approach Thursday’s game differently to the 1-0 defeat in the Netherlands, for which he made eight changes, and revealed Zlatan Ibrahimovic will start.

When United were pitted against Zorya last month, the boss admitted he didn't know much about "the Ukrainian team and their quality", but he and his coaching staff have since done their homework on an outfit he expects to be full of energy and motivation.

"I know [about them] because I watch matches – I watched their match against Fenerbahce, I watched their match against Dynamo Kiev," Jose continued. 

"I chose two good ones, two big ones – one at home, one away, against two difficult opponents and now I know what I saw, what I watched, what I analysed. One of my assistants went to watch their game against Fenerbahce live and another one went to the game against Dynamo. 

"So we tried to collect the important information to give to our players, so our players know the way they play, their important players, their style, their philosophy, their dynamics and yes, I think we are prepared."

Mourinho added on MUTV: "The Europa League is a competition Man United isn't normally in, so when these teams have a giant like Man United in front of them, it's a huge moment for them and they come to the game with incredible motivation. 

"This team defends well and they have three attacking players that I used to call 'runners' because they run and counter-attack."

The manager also had a message for the sections of the media who were quick to criticise his side after the recent three-game losing run.

"If we manage to win the game, we will win three matches in one week," Mourinho said. "So if we do that, I will wait to see if your reaction is as good as it was with three defeats in a week. But for that, we need to win."

Mata Has Found His "Natural Habitat"

Jose Mourinho believes, in Manchester United, Juan Mata has found a "very good natural habitat" to best display his football skills.

The Reds boss was asked about his time working with Mata at Chelsea and now at United, how the two styles of football compare at each club and importance of the Spanish playmaker within those styles. And in the current Reds side, Mourinho reckons Mata is a perfect fit.

"There are big differences," the manager told reporters at his press conference ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash with Zorya Luhansk, when asked about the comparisons of United's play to Chelsea's.

"In Man United I have no players to play transitional football as the main objective. We are not so physically strong and compact like we [Chelsea] were playing in a defensive block when we won the title in 2014/15.

"We [United] are in the beginning of that process, but the football we want to play here is different and I think it is very adapted to his [Mata's] qualities. We need players with his qualities, so I think he found a very good natural habitat for his football to play with us."

Mourinho continued: "My idea of football with the squad I had at Chelsea and the objectives we had at Chelsea is one thing but the football I want to play at Man United, the profile of my squad and what I want to try to do in this club is a completely different situation. So I think Juan in my project at Chelsea was a good player and in my project at Man United he is a very good player."

Zorya Luhansk: Who Are Manchester United's Opponents?

All you need to know about Manchester United's Europa League opponents Zorya Luhansk ahead of Thursday's meeting at Old Trafford...

The names of Feyenoord and Fenerbahce are familiar to English audiences but the fourth team in Manchester United's Europa League group are less well known.

Even Jose Mourinho was stumped. "The Ukrainian team, I don't have a vision of them or their qualities," admitted the United manager following the draw. So what's the story?

The history

Zorya are based in Luhansk, a city in the eastern most province of Ukraine, but are currently playing their games further west in Zaporizhia due to the ongoing conflict in the region.

The club was founded in 1923 but have gone through numerous name changes and reorganisations since then. Most notably, they were known as Zorya Voroshilovgrad - in line with the former name of the city of Luhansk - during the team's most successful period.

The trophies

That came during the early 1970s when, despite competing against the strongest sides in the then Soviet Union, Zorya were crowned as league champions in 1972. They subsequently reached the second round of the European Cup in the 1973/74 season.

Two further cup wins followed later in the decade, but the club suffered a real fall from grace - competing in the third tier of the Ukrainian league by the mid-1990s. They are enjoying a renaissance though, finishing fourth in the top flight last season as well as reaching the cup final.

The manager

Yuriy Vernydub has been in charge at Zorya for almost five years since stepping up from the role of assistant manager. The 50-year-old coach currently favours a 4-4-1-1 formation and his preparations for Old Trafford have already begun.

"I watched the Manchester United game against Leicester," said Vernydub. "I think a lot of the guys were watching the game." Even in a 4-1 win for United, he saw reasons for hope too. "I will say that Leicester looked very good in the first 20 minutes," he added.

The team

Vernydub's team might not be too well known but the players themselves have plenty of experience. Captain Mykyta Kamenyuka is a 31-year-old Ukraine international, while Jaba Lipartia and Mikhail Sivakow are Georgia and Belarus internationals respectively.

However, several of the key players who helped take the club into Europe for this season have since moved on. Last season's top scorer Pylyp Budkivskyi is now at Anzhi Makhachkala so the goalscoring responsibility now lies with Vladyslav Kulach.

The prospects

Zorya drew their first Europa League game 1-1 at home to Fenerbahce and come into this game with a little bit of form behind them having scored a stoppage-time winner in their previous away game at Dynamo Kiev as well as beating Vorskla Poltava last time out.

However, the bookmakers do not fancy their chances of causing an upset. Sky Bet make them 18/1 shots to win on Thursday, while the Ukrainian outfit are available at 20/1 to top Group A. It seems Mourinho isn't the only one without a vision of their qualities.

Credit: Skysports.com

Stars To Attend UNICEF Event

Jose Mourinho and his Manchester United first-team squad will be at the prestigious United for Unicef Gala Dinner on Monday 31 October.

The 17th annual event will again take place at Old Trafford and follows the success of last year's record-breaking evening which raised over £230,000 for the world's leading children's organisation. Offering fans the chance to rub shoulders with their footballing heroes, the event includes live auctions, with once-in-a-lifetime prizes to be won, and a table raffle of signed Manchester United memorabilia and live entertainment.

All funds raised from this year's dinner will go towards Unicef's vital work in Thailand, to support education programmes for children with limited or no access to schooling. In Thailand, 25 per cent of children do not start school; the quality of education is poor and those who do complete their schooling often leave lacking the skills needed to secure employment.

Children who remain out of school are the most marginalised, disadvantaged and have the poorest life chances, but an empowering education can break the poverty cycle. With access to quality education, every child can reap the benefits of a better, more peaceful life for themselves and their communities, with less poverty, better health and an increased ability to take their future into their own hands.

Jose Mourinho said: "What has struck me, since being appointed as manager, is the dedication, commitment and the passion of our fans in everything we do. We can all relate to the fundamental right for every child to have a good education, so with the help and generosity of our fans, we can help make a difference to thousands of children in Thailand."

To join Mourinho and the squad for a truly unforgettable night at Old Trafford and help United raise vital funds for Unicef, please visit www.manutd.com/united4unicef.

Mkhitaryan's Fine Record Against Zorya

Zorya Luhansk visit Old Trafford as virtual unknowns to Manchester United fans on Thursday, yet Henrikh Mkhitaryan knows all about the Europa League foes from his time in Ukraine.

The summer signing played for Shakhtar Donetsk across three seasons from 2010, before moving to Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund to continue his personal ascension through the European leagues.

Mkhitaryan did not feature in two matches against Zorya during his debut season with Shakhtar, but his first appearance against them in 2011/12 was a great success, scoring twice in a thumping 5-1 away win at Avanyard Stadium that contributed to his team-mates winning the title that campaign.

The 2012/13 season was also particularly fruitful for Mkhitaryan in both home and away matches against Zorya as he netted in consecutive 3-0 wins. Those two finishes helped him to break the record for the most goals scored by a single player in a Ukrainian Premier League season (25).

In total, Mkhitaryan has scored four goals in three matches against Thursday’s Europa League opponents and the Armenian will undoubtedly hope to improve his impressive tally at Old Trafford, if fit and selected.

Henrikh has not featured for the Reds since the Manchester derby on 10 September, but Jose Mourinho suggested he is close to being available and may update that situation during his pre-match media conference on Wednesday at 13:30 BST, which you can follow live on ManUtd.com.

MKHITARYAN'S RECORD V ZORYA LUHANSK

Zorya Luhansk 1 Shakhtar Donetsk 5 | 16 April 2012 | Two goals
Zorya Luhansk 0 Shakhtar Donetsk 3 | 15 September 2012 | One goal
Shakhtar Donetsk 3 Zorya Luhansk 0 | 13 April 2013 | One goal

No Premier Return For Rooney

Wayne Rooney will not be recalled to the Manchester United starting line-up for Sunday's Premier League home clash with Stoke City.

Sky sources understand the United captain will start Thursday's Europa League tie against Ukrainians Zorya Luhansk at Old Trafford before returning to the substitutes' bench at the weekend.

United boss Jose Mourinho dropped Rooney for Saturday's visit of Leicester City and watched his team thump the reigning champions 4-1..

The visit of Leicester was only the third time in four seasons Rooney had started on the bench in a Premier League game, coming on as a substitute with seven minutes remaining.

Before the game Mourinho said that the England skipper appeared to have been taken aback by the scrutiny and criticism directed at him this season.

However, Chris Smalling has backed Rooney and claimed he remains the "main man" for both Manchester United and England.

"Regardless of whatever the situation is, whatever game, whether he is on the bench or playing or whatever, he is always that same type of character and that's why he is England's main man and our main man," he said.

Credit: Skysports.com

Reds' Amazing Home Record

United Review, the official matchday programme, examined the Reds' hugely impressive home record against teams who visited Old Trafford as the reigning champions.

Leicester City, of course, became the latest kings of England to be beaten by United, following the 4-1 victory for Jose Mourinho's men at the weekend, ensuring an overall post-War record of:

PLAYED: 52
WON: 29
DRAWN: 17
LOST: 6
GOALS FOR: 91
GOALS AGAINST: 38

Remarkably, United have only lost once at home to the title holders since the 1960s. Manchester City's 2-1 triumph in 2013 may have mattered little overall as the Reds' lead at the top of the Premier League table was only trimmed to 12 points in the April fixture. Yet the narrow reverse to the Blues remains the only loss since another derby defeat way back in March 1969.

1940s: Everton 3-0, Liverpool 2-0, Arsenal 2-0.
1950s: Portsmouth 0-2, Portsmouth 0-0, Tottenham 2-0, Arsenal 2-2, Wolves 2-4, Chelsea 3-0, Wolves 2-1.
1960s: Wolves 0-2, Burnley 6-0, Tottenham 1-0, Ipswich 0-1, Everton 5-1, Liverpool 3-0, Liverpool 2-2, Man City 0-1.
1970s: Leeds 2-2, Everton 2-0, Arsenal 3-1, Derby 3-0, Liverpool 0-0, Derby 1-1, Liverpool 0-0, Liverpool 2-0, Nottingham Forest 1-1. 
1980s: Liverpool 2-1, Liverpool 0-0, Aston Villa 4-1, Liverpool 1-1, Liverpool 1-0, Liverpool 1-1, Everton 0-0, Liverpool 1-0, Everton 2-1, Liverpool 3-1, Arsenal 4-1.
1990s: Liverpool 1-1, Arsenal 1-1, Leeds 2-0, Blackburn 1-0, Arsenal 1-1.
2000s: Arsenal 2-0, Arsenal 2-0, Chelsea 1-0, Chelsea 1-1.
2010s: Chelsea 2-1, Man City 1-2, Man City 4-2, Chelsea 0-0, Leicester 4-1.

Credit: Manutd.com

Rashford Wants Momentum In 2nd Season

Marcus Rashford has four goals from seven Manchester United appearances this season and the 18-year-old is glad to have momentum following a spectacular emergence last campaign.

The last of those goals was scored against Premier League champions Leicester City on Saturday and Rashford gave an exclusive interview to the matchday programme at Old Trafford, discussing his outstanding breakthrough into the first team in 2015/16 and his desire to kick on this term.

“A lot of things happened last season and it is now behind me,” Marcus told United Review. “It was last season. I have to try and recreate those moments this year and to get the goal early in the season was quite important for me to get back on a roll. I am just looking to build momentum now.”

Rashford’s first goal of the season was netted at Hull City on 27 August when the Academy graduate came off the bench to fire the winner in added time before celebrating with the travelling fans in the away end. Interestingly, he described that strike as the “most important” of his flourishing career.

“It was a different moment for me and I don’t think I’ve scored one so late in the game before,” he stated. “It was an amazing feeling to be with the travelling fans as well, a brilliant feeling. It was instinct to go into the crowd in moments like that. You don’t think about it, you just do it!

“I feel like that was the most important goal for me, to get the winner in the last minute away from home. I like the feeling that it gave me and I want more. But on an emotional side the debut goal against Midtjylland is still at the top of the list for me.”

While discussing goals with United’s emerging marksman, it would have been rude not to ask him about his memorable winner in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium last March. Unsurprisingly, he has fond and detailed memories about that 1-0 success against City.

“In the game it was quite even so it could have gone either way,” he said. “We were attacking and then they were attacking. I think they had a bit more of the ball but they weren’t really threatening us. There were two times before the goal when I got on a one-v-one with him [Martin Demichelis] and he just nicked the ball off me. I knew what I needed to do the next time I got the ball so I did it.

“Then I was against the keeper [Joe Hart] and it was just about relaxing, composing myself and that was what I did. After it went in, the fans were too far away but it was a good feeling with everyone coming towards you. To win the game 1-0 as well, to hold out as a team was great.”

Schweini Treatment Not Right

Bastian Schweinsteiger's former team-mate Lukas Podolski has hit out at Jose Mourinho for his treatment of the veteran midfielder.

Mourinho has frozen Schweinsteiger out of the first-team picture at Manchester United and the former Germany captain is training with the reserves.

It is a significant fall from grace for the 32-year-old, who has won eight Bundesliga titles, the Champions League and the World Cup during his career, and Podolski believes Schweinsteiger should be treated with more respect.

Speaking to Bild, Podolski said: "When you look at the career Bastian has had, I can only say that what is happening there is simply not right for a player of his stature.

"I do not know what Mourinho has discussed with Bastian. But it is clear that it is not okay to drop someone like Basti to the reserves.

"A coach should always keep his door open to all players, and especially to players like Schweini."

Schweinsteiger made it clear prior to the end of the summer transfer window that he has no intention of playing for another team in Europe, but Podolski believes the MLS could be an intriguing option.

"I think America is great. Moving abroad is good for personality development and it would also be good for our children," added Podolski.

"Clearly it would be possible to play with Schweinsteiger in the States."

Credit: Skysports.com

Zlatan: Sign Pogba Or Else

Zlatan Ibrahimovic jokingly told his agent he would "break his legs" if he was unable to secure a Manchester United move for fellow client Paul Pogba.

Mino Raiola, who represents both players, as well as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, concluded the deals which took all three to Old Trafford in the summer.

Pogba's protracted world record transfer took time to get over the line amid reported interest from Real Madrid but once Ibrahimovich completed his own switch to United, the Swede gave Raiola a nudge to ensure Pogba followed him.

"Zlatan told me, 'Do not transfer Pogba elsewhere or I will break your legs'," Raiola told Dutch newspaper Volkskrant.nl.

Pogba has taken time to settle since returning to United but produced a vibrant display against Leicester on Saturday, getting on the scoresheet in a 4-1 victory.

Prior to that game, Raiola made known his feelings that Jose Mourinho had not been playing Pogba in his favourite position - on the left-hand side of an attacking trio.

"Pogba still has to find his place in the team," added Raiola. "My preferred position for him is left attacking midfielder.

"With his power, stamina and technique... Pogba would be unplayable in that role. But Mourinho takes the decisions."

The win against Leicester came on the back of an EFL Cup victory at Northampton, but before that United had suffered three successive defeats.

Credit: Skysports.com

Why Pogba Will Prove Critics Wrong

It seemed ridiculous that some people were questioning the wisdom of Manchester United investing a world-record sum in Paul Pogba when we were only in mid-September.

The Frenchman is a monster of a midfielder and, in my opinion, if ever there was somebody suited to the rigours of the Premier League, it is the 23-year-old.

Of course, he knows United inside out already and has the class and stamina to impose himself on matches no matter how demanding the campaign will become. In short, he will become a major influence and is only going to get better as he reaches his peak years.

Personally, I think he will be at his world-class best over the taxing winter period when he will be bullying opponents and helping United pick up vital points. By then, he will also have properly reacclimatised to life back in the English top flight. In the meantime, I have no doubts, he will prove his worth for Jose Mourinho's side as he adapts to his role in the team.

The reason for my confidence is not only his ability, which was already shown in abundance in the home game against Southampton when he was outstanding, but other things you notice. From the stands, it was reassuring to witness the quiet word and gee-up he had for pal Jesse Lingard during the first half of the Manchester derby during a break in play.

It was a show of maturity and solidarity and, soon afterwards, Lingard set up Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the chance that could have sent the Reds in level at the break. This illustration of the character that comes with being brought up at United means he is on a sound footing in that regard.  

The defeats that followed to Feyenoord and Watford brought renewed scrutiny on our record buy, which was inevitable but also somewhat unfair. He was said to have been shouting at his colleagues in Rotterdam, which was deemed a negative, even if it could have been another example of his leadership qualities and proved he was caring that things were not going the Reds' way.

I heard somebody in the media describe him as "invisible" at Vicarage Road, presumably forgetting the thunderbolt long-range drive that dipped a second too late when leaving Heurelho Gomes' crossbar reverberating for some time. Had that shot gone in, there would have been no debate about Pogba and his overall contribution leading into the victory over Leicester City.

Of course, we all know what happened against the champions at Old Trafford on Saturday. Not only did the Frenchman score his first senior goal for the club but he was exceptional and won the Man-of-the-Match award. The pass he provided for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, when the Swede fired a volley over the top, was sensational and suggests he is starting to get on the same wavelength as his colleagues.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but, in truth, most of my thoughts here were formulated long before our no.6 stepped out onto the pitch at the weekend. I am sure I am like most United fans in not having a single worry as to how Pogba will fare back at the club. He is going to be a spectacular signing and a key man for Jose Mourinho.

The views expressed in this article are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United.

Credit: Manutd.com

Fantastic First Halves

Saturday's fantastic 4-1 win against Leicester City was the first match to feature four first-half goals from Manchester United since 1 December 2012.

The last time the Reds were so prolific before the interval was when Reading were defeated 4-3 at the Madejski Stadium but as you can read below, that was a very different kind of contest which was far from under United's complete control.

24 September 2016, United 4 Leicester 1
The Reds went 1-0 up when Chris Smalling headed home a Daley Blind corner in the 22nd minute. Just fifteen minutes later the lead was doubled, as Juan Mata finished off a delightful 18-pass move that included some wonderful work from Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard. Mata was again involved in United’s third strike, with Blind playing a quick short corner to the Spaniard, whose low cross was tapped in by the onrushing Marcus Rashford. The fourth and final goal of the opening 45 minutes came from another corner and once more Blind provided the delivery - when it met the head of Pogba, the Frenchman skilfully directed the ball past Ron-Robert Zieler into the Leicester net.

1 December 2012, Reading 3 United 4
This memorable match at the Madejski Stadium resulted in an astonishing seven goals being scored in the first half – still a Premier League record. The Royals took the lead through Hal Robson-Kanu, only for a rare Anderson effort and Wayne Rooney's penalty to put United 2-1 up. Adam Le Fondre and Sean Morrison restored Reading's ascendancy at 3-2 but another Rooney strike gave Robin van Persie the platform to net the seventh and final goal, with 11 minutes still to play in the first period. Crazy stuff.

10 April 2007, United 7 Roma 1
Prior to the Leicester victory, the Reds last scored four goals in the first half at Old Trafford when the famous stadium staged one of its greatest-ever European matches. Going into the game 2-1 down from the first leg, United had work to do in order to reach the Champions League semi-finals - and how that work was done! Michael Carrick, Alan Smith, Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo all netted before half-time; Carrick and Ronaldo bagged again after the break with Patrice Evra also on target to complete an 8-3 aggregate win.

20 August 2006, United 5 Fulham 1
Until the Foxes were swept aside on Saturday, this was when United last hit the net four times in the first half of a home Premier League game. The opening day of the 2006/07 season could not have started much better - strikes from Louis Saha, Rooney and Ronaldo plus an own goal from Ian Pearce put the Reds 4-0 up after just 19 minutes. Although Rio Ferdinand scored at the wrong end, also before half-time, the second period was really just a formality with Rooney wrapping up the 5-1 win shortly after the hour mark. The result set the tone for United's league form in what proved to be a title-winning campaign.

Vidic Flattered By Bailly Comparison

Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic is pleased Eric Bailly has been compared to him, having been impressed by the Ivorian’s performances since his arrival from Villarreal.

Bailly won the Man-of-the-Match award in three of his first four competitive matches and was later voted the Reds’ Player of the Month for August to cap an excellent start to life at Old Trafford.

Comparisons are inevitable in football and Bailly was swiftly likened in style to United’s most prominent defensive warrior of recent times, Vidic, the now-retired Serbian star who left the Reds in 2014 and takes no offence at such associations. “It’s nice to hear and, from what I’ve seen, he is a very good player,” Nemanja exclusively explained in Saturday’s edition of United Review.

“If he keeps going as he is, he will definitely have a great career at United,” Vidic told us. “Of course, I’m glad that someone compares him to me and I hope he will be a player who does very well for us. He’s strong and composed with the ball. He’s a very confident player. He has a bit of everything. What I have seen in the first few matches is that we have a great player for the future and a player I would say we needed. He reads the game well. He already looks a big signing for us.

“I think he’s already popular with the fans. Of the signings we’ve had this year, I think he’s the one that has surprised everyone the most. He’s 22 years old and he went straight into the club and looks at home straight away. That’s outstanding for me. We know how many players come to England and need time to adapt and that, for me, is what is so impressive – he’s 22 and he has adapted straight away and showed some confidence which is important.”

While Vidic arrived midway through the 2005/06 season and didn’t fully bed into Sir Alex Ferguson’s side until the following campaign, Bailly has hit the ground running. But these are early days in a young player’s career in a new league and situations can quickly change. Having been there and done it, the Serbian stresses that caveats are a must when predicting what the future holds.

“The most important thing for a player of his age is to keep his feet on the ground,” said Vidic. “The first few matches he really performed well and had so many compliments from everyone, but it’s important to stay calm, keep doing what he was doing before and keep improving. If he continues to play like he does and stays focused, he can be here for many years and help the team be successful.”

Mata: Old Trafford Is Buzzing

Each and every Monday during the season, Manchester United star Juan Mata pens a personal blog in which he reflects on his past week both on and off the pitch. In his latest post, on Monday 26 September, he reflects on the home victory over Leicester City and looks ahead to two more games at Old Trafford...

Today I’m writing at the end of a quiet and happy Sunday, the day that follows a good and convincing victory. The truth is Saturday was a special day at Old Trafford. Facing the current champions and getting such a win, feeling how the fans celebrate it, and enjoying on the pitch have been enough reasons to make this weekend special.

Each goal came in a different way; we showed that we are a team with a lot of potential, with different ways to score goals, and we have to take advantage of that. The crowd in Old Trafford was really excited, in a way I hadn’t seen for a long time, and that’s what our fans deserve.

Being able to play and win like that is a special feeling. You can feel the crowd connecting with the team, and it seems that everything just flows. In general we got very positive feelings and a boost of confidence to play the next couple of games before another international break.

We have two games again this week. On Thursday we play against Zorya Luhansk, from Ukraine. Perhaps they are not very well known, but they are second in their league with only one defeat so far. We will get to know more things about them in the next few days to prepare for the game. The first week they got a draw against Fenerbahce; they are not in this competition by chance.

On the weekend we will face Stoke City in Old Trafford. They haven’t had the start they expected but it’s always tough to play against them. They have very talented players that are able to define a match in an individual action. We are looking forward to having two good games at home this week and make the fans enjoy as they did last Saturday. It would allow us to go to the international break with very good feelings.

It’s time to sign off, have a nice week!

Hugs,

Juan

Credit: Manutd.com

Smalling: Our High Tempo Will Hurt Teams

Chris Smalling believes opposition teams will not be able to live with Manchester United if the Reds can reproduce the same tempo shown in Saturday's 4-1 win over Premier League champions Leicester City.


Smalling opened the scoring against the Foxes with a towering header after just 22 minutes, before further goals from Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and a first senior goal from Paul Pogba effectively put the game to bed before the break.

The 26-year-old defender feels the impressive first period is something his side should try to repeat as the quest for consistency continues.

"If we can start games with that tempo there won’t be many teams that can live with us," Smalling told reporters after the match.

"I think when we start the game like that, you can see everyone is on the front foot and you can see the urgency. We could have had more goals I think in that first half and playing on the front foot benefits us all.

"By winning games and dominating games like that, I think everyone gets their confidence back and you could see we really put that game to bed in the first half and hopefully there is more of that to come because everyone really enjoyed that.

"It's now about finding that consistency so we stay at the top end of the table. We don’t want any more blips, hopefully we have had our last blip for quite a while now."

Smalling suggested pre-match words from United manager Jose Mourinho had the desired effect by inspiring the players.

"The boss really wanted to get the enjoyment factor across," Smalling continued. "He stressed how there is 70-odd thousand people in the stands who want to be in our shoes and in his shoes. It's a case of realising how lucky we are and how we should go out there and enjoy it. You can see that everyone did enjoy it and the message clearly did get across."

The win over the Foxes was even more crucial following Premier League defeats to Manchester City and Watford and a Europa League loss to Feyenoord and the central defender believes the Reds have moved on from those disappointments and can now look to build on the win with two further home games fast approaching.

"There was a lot of talk about us needing to turn the situation around because we obviously had a bad week with the three results," Smalling added. "We could only show we have moved on by doing it on the pitch and I thought that first half was a great performance and really gave us a marker.

"You try and shut out the negatives, but we all know as players that we are a lot better than we showed in those defeats. We have tried to improve each day and hopefully we can now take this into the two big games coming up, both at home, and hopefully put on a show."

Smalling skippered the side in the absence of Wayne Rooney, who started the game on the substitutes' bench, and the stand-in had some specific praise for the club captain.

"He is our captain, he is one of our main players and there is no doubt that he has got a big part to play," Smalling commented.

"He is often the most vocal in the dressing room and he was the same today. Regardless of the situation, whether he is on the bench or playing, he is always the same character and that is why he is England’s main man and our main man.

"I think he is a very experienced guy and he has played that many games it is only a matter of time before he is back in there and firing again because he is quality."

Better Without Rooney?

Manchester United got back to winning ways in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over champions Leicester at Old Trafford. Dropping Wayne Rooney paid off, writes Adam Bate.

Manchester United had won their first three Premier League games only to lose the next two. One thing all five matches had in common was that Jose Mourinho's men were outrun by their opponents. That changed on Saturday against champions Leicester City of all teams. And it coincided with the removal of Wayne Rooney from the starting line-up.

The United captain began on the bench in a Premier League game for only the third time in four seasons and while it would be unfair to blame him entirely for the erstwhile lack of urgency shown by the side up to this point, it was conspicuous just how much more intense they looked in his absence. Mourinho's decision to go with "the two fast kids" paid off.

"I think we started well for the first time," said the Portuguese manager afterwards. "We thought against a team like Leicester, the way they defend we thought the best solution for us was to play with the two fast kids and Juan Mata in a position where he can interact with these fast kids. From a defensive point of view it was important to have fast players on the pitch."

Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard certainly fulfilled their remit. The former scored his 12th goal for the club since February while the latter provided that much-needed energy, making more sprints - far more - than any other player. With the tempo restored, United looked a different proposition altogether and the game was over as a contest before half time.

Of course, much of that was due to Leicester's inability to defend corners rather than anything Rooney had previously been doing - or not doing - in that No 10 position. But those supporters who'd pointed to the Europa League defeat to Feyenoord as proof that the problems remain with or without him in the side now have alternative evidence to consider.

Indeed, Mourinho might view this as something of a control experiment. He retained the two-man midfield that some had suggested was stifling Paul Pogba, but saw his side impress nevertheless. Mata hardly has a reputation as a Mourinho favourite and is no speedster himself but he showed what was possible when someone else is handed that No 10 role.

The Spaniard became the first United player to score and assist in the same game so far this season. Not only did he cover more ground than any other player, but he did so with real intelligence by drifting to both wings - thus freeing up the space for Pogba to advance and for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to drop into. It wasn't just the wide men, everyone benefited.

In fact, there were signs that Mata's willingness to look forwards in the No 10 position rather than merely to the full-backs could have a transformative effect. He found Ibrahimovic with eight passes and was on hand to receive the ball from the big Swede on 11 occasions. That's more than Rooney and Ibrahimovic have linked up in any game so far this year.

The improved fluency in the team was best exemplified by United's second goal, scored by Mata. All 10 outfield players were involved in the build-up before the Spaniard produced just the sort of third-man run that used to be United's trademark - having that trust in a team-mate that the ball would come eventually. Lingard popped off the pass and Mata finished expertly.

The assist for Rashford's goal was similarly shrewd, staying alert as Leicester switched off from a corner. It's exactly the sort of bright football that United fans want to see. "My team as a team played very well," said Mourinho. "Today we had intensity, movement, good dynamic." Ander Herrera's inclusion, in a deeper role, helped that too.

But the praise for Ibrahimovic despite his failure to find the net was particularly telling. Mourinho insisted that the 34-year-old had been "absolutely fantastic" in leading from the front, adding: "When our main striker is Zlatan we need fast people to surround him." So where does that leave Rooney?

Ibrahimovic has played every minute of the Premier League season so far - one of only two strikers in the country to have done so - so it's reasonable to assume that the No 9 role has been nailed down by the veteran forward. The importance of pace on the flanks has been perfectly illustrated, while Mata shone in his natural position.

In short, it clicked without Rooney. So while Pep Guardiola tackled the big decisions at Manchester City head on, perhaps Mourinho is edging towards similarly significant changes in a more indirect fashion. Even the decision to play Rooney for the full 90 minutes against Northampton in midweek could be seen as facilitating this move.

And yet, openly he remains insistent that there is no issue with the captain. Afterwards, he described Rooney as: "A big player for me, a big player for United and a big player for this country. I have nothing else to say, he is my man, I trust him completely, he is happy as I am in this moment." Happy? Perhaps. In Manchester United's best starting line-up? Surely not.

Credit: Skysports.com

Jose: Rooney Change Worked

Jose Mourinho has revealed his desire to introduce more pace to Manchester United’s attack was the reason behind his decision to drop captain Wayne Rooney for the 4-1 victory over Leicester on Saturday.

Rooney was omitted from the starting XI for the visit of the Premier League champions to Old Trafford, with Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata preferred in an attacking three behind lone frontman Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

United, who came into the match on the back of three successive defeats, responded by firing four first-half goals past Leicester, with Chris Smalling, Mata, Rashford and Paul Pogba on target.

Rooney played the final seven minutes of the match after replacing Rashford and Mourinho insisted in the aftermath of victory that the England forward was still a "big player for United".

However, the United boss also said: "When our main striker is Zlatan, we need fast people surrounding him.

"If he [Rooney] is on the pitch or at home, he is my captain. But we thought against a team like Leicester, the best solution for us was to play with the two fast kids and Mata in a position where he can interact with them. It did well for us.

"It was a good performance, the intensity of our pressure, our counter-attacks, the way we reached when we lost the ball.

"The young kids were fast and pressing and attacking spaces. Zlatan played very well in organisation of the attack."

Credit: Skysports.com

Mata: We Needed This Result

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata claimed the emphatic 4-1 win over Premier League champions Leicester City was the perfect response to recent criticism of the Reds.

The Spanish playmaker's return to the starting line-up was one of eight changes from the midweek EFL Cup win over Northampton Town and he scored one and assisted another goal in the team's standout performance of the season so far.

“I think we needed something like this,” admitted Mata, acknowledging United had gone into the sixth Premier League game after losing the fourth and fifth to Manchester City and Watford.

“There has been a lot of talk about the team in recent weeks but we scored four different goals and showed what we could do.

“Once you score the first one and the second one, you gain confidence and it’s great for the fans because it’s been a while since they have had something to celebrate like this.”

As the goals flew in during a frantic 20-minute spell, Mata scored his second of the season, having also found the net with United's first Premier League strike of 2016/17, at Bournemouth on the opening weekend.

He told MUTV: “It was a nice goal but the most important thing was that it came at an important moment in the game. After we scored the first goal, Leicester were still in the game so the second goal and then the third goal killed off the game.”

The Spaniard's left-footed strike to round off a fine team move was the only one of United's four goals against Leicester that didn't come from a Daley Blind corner. Mata's fellow midfielder Paul Pogba joined Chris Smalling in scoring with a header and when another setpiece fell to Juan, he teed up Marcus Rashford for a close-range finish.

"We have always worked on corners," commented Mata. "As a team we try to get the ball into the box for someone to put it in the back of the net. We tried it a few times last season but it didn't work. Now we know we have strong people, tall people to head the ball in."

Neville On Rooney's Future

Gary Neville says Wayne Rooney will have a decision to make about his future role at Manchester United as he goes through a transitional phase in his career.

The United captain was dropped to the bench for the 4-1 win over Leicester on Saturday at Old Trafford, coming on for the last seven minutes of the game.

Jose Mourinho insisted Rooney was still "his man" at United, but Neville says the 30-year-old may have to adapt his game in the same way the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs did in order to prolong his Old Trafford career.

He said on the Gary Neville Podcast: "This is a transition into a new phase of his career, where he's potentially got to play a different way.

"No player at 22 is the same at 32, 33, 34. If you look at Paul Scholes, he went from a marauding midfield to a holding midfield player, Steven Gerrard the same, Giggs from a flying winger to a central midfield player.

"Rooney's going through that period now. I think potentially there will be a little bit of relief for him, in the sense of the scrutiny around him in the last week.

"It's how Wayne Rooney reacts to it. There will come a point where he will have to make that decision of either playing every week or coming to that point in his career where he may come out of the team one week, then go back in and adapt to that type of position."

Rooney has been criticised in recent weeks for his performances as United struggled for form over the last fortnight, but Neville insists one player does not make the entire team play poorly.

While Neville admits Rooney's approach to his role at United needs analysing, the former Old Trafford defender insists there should be no knee-jerk reactions to their performance without the England skipper.

"It is a big call to leave Rooney out. I know Jose said it's a normal thing, but it is a big call. He's a big personality, it brings headlines.

"If United lose today it comes with criticism. The fact they've won 4-1 it's the perfect day for Jose Mourinho.

"It's become a distraction away from the main issue, and that is that no individual causes a whole team to play poorly. I know there will be those today who will react to the win and say: 'Look how well we played without Rooney.'

"But that's not the reality of it. There's a long way to go yet for a lot of these Manchester United players who played well today."

Credit: Skysports.com

Pundits On Pogba Performance

Paul Pogba's performance against Leicester City was his best in a Manchester United shirt, says Gary Neville, though Graeme Souness would like to see the Frenchman get forward more.

Pogba earned the man-of-the-match award as United saw off Leicester 4-1 at Old Trafford, scoring his first goal since his world-record £89m move from Juventus in the summer.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Neville says Pogba's all-round performance on Saturday, in particular his defensive work, may have come after a wake-up call following some mixed performances over the past fortnight.

Neville said: "Pogba was instrumental in that first half. We look at the scrutiny on Wayne Rooney, but a lot of people are saying that for £90m on a central midfield player, you have to influence the game. Today he did.

"The first half he was the best player on the pitch. In the first half, he seemed more determined, like Mourinho had told him to sprint back and win the ball. I think he's had a bit of a wake-up call in the week.

"It was an all-round performance. It is the best I've seen him.

"If you think about what you want your midfield player to do for £90m, you want him to pass well, come forward, be a threat in the box, be dynamic, sprint back and be a force defensively.

"All the facets of what would be an all-round midfield player, he's one of those rare midfield players who can do most things, and today we saw a big influence on the game."

The 23-year-old was influential in all areas on Saturday, tracking back on numerous occasions and creating a nuisance in the Leicester box.

Pogba scored 20 goals in his last two seasons for Juventus, and Souness believes he would be even more effective running in behind defences and being more of a presence inside the penalty area.

"I think Pogba should be getting in front of the ball a lot of the time, making runs into the box. He looks like he can run all day," said the former Scotland midfielder.

"I'd like to see him in the box more, he's an obvious threat arriving late. He's got power, strength, can head the ball, and I just think he's playing well within himself. I think he has so much more to offer, and I'd like to see him among the goals more.

"If I'm playing against him, I'd be happy seeing in front of me all the time, I wouldn't want to match his runs running into the box, because he'd run you into the ground."

Credit: Skysports.com

Pogba: We Were Almost Perfect

Paul Pogba felt Manchester United's first-half performance in Saturday's 4-1 win was "almost perfect" as the Reds dismantled league champions Leicester City to lead 4-0 at the break.

The Frenchman himself brought up that scoreline with his first-ever senior goal for the club, rising above the Foxes' defence to head past Ron-Robert Zieler from Daley Blind's corner - the same setpiece route that also created United's opening and third strikes registered by Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford respectively.

Juan Mata was the other player to find the net in a rampant first period last matched at Old Trafford, at least in terms of goals, in April 2007 when Roma were ultimately defeated 7-1 in the Champions League.

"The first half was almost perfect and that's why we won the game I think," Pogba told MUTV. "It was our best half since the start of the season. It wasn't easy for the players in the second half to switch on when we knew Leicester were going to push up to try to score goals but I think we did great.

"The thing we did well was we did great without the ball. It was very important and when we had the ball we just played like I knew we could. We were very focused and we produced a big performance on the pitch. We want to carry on like this."

Pogba, who was voted Man of the Match by followers of @ManUtd on Twitter, was no stranger to the scoresheet for United's Reserves and Academy sides. He's thrilled to have now opened his first-team account in this second spell with the club, especially on home turf.

“It feels great to get my first goal at Old Trafford," the no.6 said. "For me it was very good and very important. I hope it won’t be the last one."

The record signing is also hoping for more of the same from the team as a whole, describing the overall display as "the best performance from me and the team since we came back from international duty.

There are a lot of games to play so we will keep fighting and hopefully continuing with performances like this one."

When asked if he is enjoying the variety of tests thrown up by the Premier League, Pogba admitted: "It was a big challenge for me to come here, even though I‘d won four titles with Juventus. It was a challenge with the history at United - but I always go for challenges."

On the topic of recent media criticism of the team, the Frenchman retorted: "I never read the newspapers but I always say one thing – at the end you will see."

Mourinho's Verdict On Victory Over The Foxes

Jose Mourinho praised his Manchester United team after the 4-1 victory over Leicester City, citing the Reds' intensity and movement as key factors in the success.

Here are the main points from the manager's post-match interviews with Sky Sports and MUTV...

WE WERE IN CONTROL
“It was a very good performance. It’s much more difficult to win in such a comfortable way like we did. We felt their fragility after the second goal and we went for more and played really well. Obviously in the second half nobody was expecting to score four more goals and win 8-0 and it was all about control."

A POSITIVE START
“I think we started well for the first time I can say. Normally our second-half performances are better than the first. I don’t know why as we prepare in the same way with the same professionalism. Today we had intensity, we had good movement, we were dynamic and we were strong defensively against a team that, I repeat, are easy to analyse but hard to cope with. To be back home and beat the champions is good. Last season we couldn’t beat them and this season we’ve already beaten them twice."

THE DISPLAY A TEMPLATE FOR WHAT YOU WANT?
"I can say yes. We were much more aggressive and pressed higher. The team was quicker to react when the ball was lost and we were very objective, we had lots of fast football. We played the way we wanted to play and played really well. The preparation for the games is always good. Then the game is the game and there are many things not in your control, that's why football is so beautiful and so loved. But the reality is we played very well until the game was closed.

TEAM PERFORMANCE OR WERE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS PIVOTAL?
“I think the team played very well. You score four goals but your striker doesn't score a goal and yet I think the striker played phenomenal. I think [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic played fantastic in the way he was the start of our attacks. [Juan] Mata thinks football very fast and [Jesse] Lingard and [Marcus] Rashford gave a great intensity for the team, but I prefer to say that my team as a team played well."

ROONEY STILL A BIG PLAYER FOR US
“He's a big player for me, a big player for United and a big player for this country. I don’t want to say anything else. He’s my man, I trust him completely and he's as happy as I am at the moment. His team won and that’s normal, he’s happy."

MUST KEEP WINNING
“We lost six points in the Premier League but the reality is that we are not drawing, we are winning. The situation of dropping points but not drawing games is basically the same. We have 12 points but today was about the result, the performance and the happiness of the fans. On Thursday we have a very important match in the Europa League and to be back here after such a good result for us is good."

Premier League: Man. United 4 Leicester City 1

Manchester United returned to winning ways in the Premier League in emphatic style after four first-half goals led to the Reds beating champions Leicester City 4-1 at Old Trafford.

Chris Smalling headed United into a 22nd-minute lead following a Daley Blind corner, before Juan Mata doubled the Reds' tally on 37 minutes. Two further Blind corners were met by Mata, who found Marcus Rashford for the third strike, and then Paul Pogba who made it 4-0 three minutes before the break with his first senior goal for the club.

Demarai Gray pulled one back for the visitors with a stunning strike 14 minutes into the second half, but it turned out to be a mere consolation as United came away with the much-needed three points.

As expected, Jose Mourinho reshuffled his pack following the win over Northampton Town in midweek, with the likes of David De Gea, Eric Bailly, Pogba and Mata all restored to the starting XI. Zlatan Ibrahimovic began the game up front, with club captain Wayne Rooney on the bench. 

United came into this fixture against the champions knowing only a win would do following two successive Premier League defeats and started on the front foot, looking to boss proceedings with the lion's share of possession. Ibrahimovic so nearly played in Rashford with an acute through ball, but former United youth-team goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler was quick off his line to gather. 

At the other end, the Foxes were looking dangerous on the counter attack. First former United acadamy graduate Danny Drinkwater had a shot blocked following a corner, before Robert Huth blasted over from a narrow angle.

The opener for United came on 22 minutes through an unlikely source. A Blind out-swinging corner was met by the towering Smalling who climbed above three Leicester defenders to bullet a header past Zieler, who did get a hand to the ball, but could not prevent the Reds taking the lead.

Minutes later and it could have been two as United began to turn the screw. First Ibrahimovic fired over before Rashford did likewise. Pogba then clipped a majestic ball over a Leicester defender for Ibrahimovic, but the Swede again fired over. Were United going to rue these missed chances? The Old Trafford faithful hoped not as they rose to their feet in appreciation of the summer signings' clever combination.

On the half-hour mark, Pogba was involved again. This time he struck a stunning 40-yard curling effort towards goal which was tipped wide by Zieler, but the pressure finally told on 37 minutes as great interplay between Mata, Pogba and Lingard allowed the Spaniard to celebrate his 150th Premier League start in style as he fired past Zieler into the far corner.

United weren't done there. A quick corner from Blind three minutes later found Mata again who squared for Rashford to slide the ball in for the Reds third goal and second in quick succession. 

If two Blind corners wasn't enough, how about three? This time Pogba rose highest to head past Zieler for his first senior Reds goal. He celebrated in typically cool style, standing proud as the fans watched on in awe. The game was as good as over by half-time.

HALF-TIME STATS
Possession: United 66% Leicester 34%
Shots at goal: United 10 Leicester 5
Shots on target: United 5 Leicester 0
Corners: United 5 Leicester 3

United had a lot to live up to in the second period but it was the visitors who struck next. 

Claudio Ranieri introduced Andy King and Gray at half time and the latter spectacularly beat De Gea from 35 yards with a stunning strike into the top corner. A contender for Leicester's goal of the season thus far.

Lingard fired over on 65 minutes before Ibrahimovic's low shot was tipped wide by Zieler as United looked to add a fifth.

King should have pulled a second back for Leicester, but after great work by Jeff Schlupp, could only fire straight at De Gea.

Grey was then close to replicating his goal with a similar effort, but this time De Gea did well to tip it wide for a corner.

It was a relatively quiet second half in truth, but the damage was done in the first half as United silenced the recently vocal critics in impressive fashion.

FULL-TIME STATS
Possession: United 67% Leicester 33%
Shots at goal: United 16 Leicester 10
Shots on target: United 7 Leicester 3
Corners: United 8 Leicester 6 United: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Bailly, Blind; Pogba, Herrera; Rashford (Rooney 83'), Mata (Young 87'), Lingard (Carrick 78'); Ibrahimovic. Subs not used: Romero, Fosu-Mensah, Rojo, Fellaini.
Leicester City: Zieler; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (Gray 45'), Amartey, Drinkwater, Albrighton (Schlupp 62'); Vardy (King 45'), Slimani. Subs not used: Hernández, Musa, Hamer, Okazaki, Ulloa.
Booked: Huth, Simpson