Mourinho & Rooney: Pogba Needs Time

Jose Mourinho has rejected a suggestion that Paul Pogba will be lifted by his goals against Fenerbahce - as the Manchester United star was already 100 per cent confident in his ability. 

The 23-year-old France international joined the Reds from Juventus for a world-record fee in August and, perhaps unsurprisingly, his performances have been heavily scrutinised since then.

Pogba scored twice in the Europa League on Thursday, firstly from the penalty spot and again with an excellent finish just before half-time, and Mourinho was pleased with his fourth summer signing.

However, while speaking at his post-match press conference, the manager played down a question about the United Academy graduate benefiting from his brace although he admitted the star still needs time to adapt.

“First of all, from some of your mouths, he has gone from the worst player in the Premier League to a great player in 48 hours,” Mourinho told reporters at Old Trafford. “I am not specifically saying that is you, and when I say you I mean the media – especially the Einsteins. But the reality is that we know he is a very good player and we know that he needs some time to show all of his potential.

“I know Italian football very well, I know the way Italian teams play. It is completely different to the Premier League. I am not saying we are better than them. I am just saying we are different. We are different in intensity, different in the space to play, different in the number of touches you can have of the ball, different in the time you have to decide, everything is different. He needs time to adapt.

“What can he take from tonight? I don’t think much because he is a self-confident boy. He is not the kind of boy who was depressed because some people were saying that he was a bad player. He was not depressed. He was just calm, so I don’t think tonight will make a big difference. But it is always nice for a player to score, to score at home and especially to score such a beautiful goal like he did.”

Wayne Rooney, who started against Fenerbahce, echoed a similar sentiment to Mourinho when he spoke to the press following the Reds’ 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Monday night.

“Paul is a fantastic player,” the captain said. “I think he is working hard and he is doing well, it is a different league to what he’s been used to – he didn't really play [in the first team] last time when he was here so this is all new. He is a fantastic player and he will shine for us this season there is no doubt.”