Pogba Praises Fans' Influence

Paul Pogba was quick to praise the Manchester United supporters after the Reds performed a late turnaround to defeat Middlesbrough 2-1 at Old Trafford.

A Grant Leadbitter strike had put the visitors into a shock lead, before two goals in a minute from Anthony Martial and Pogba ensured a memorable end to the year for Jose Mourinho's men.

Pogba spoke to MUTV after the game and explained how the team had been given extra energy by the Old Trafford faithful's backing.

"The fans just pushed us and we have to thank them every day because they gave us this energy," he insisted. "To be honest I was very tired and they gave me something else, another breath and I think that’s why I scored. I’m very happy for the win and I’m very glad that we make the fans happy."

Pogba was delighted to get his name on the scoresheet having been left frustrated by the woodwork earlier in the game, following a spectacular overhead effort, and in other recent matches.

"This time yes I could score!" he joked. "It’s crazy I had so many occasions [to score] in the last two games, but today it went in and I’m very happy. We had to score the two goals to win so we did what we had to do."

The Teessiders went ahead with just over 20 minutes remaining, but Pogba insisted that he and his team-mates never lost belief about winning the game.

"Of course [we still believed], that’s why we scored," he continued. "That’s why we won the game because we kept fighting and we believed that we could win.

"It’s very good for the health. Mentally we got stronger and we have to keep doing it. We’re Man United, we’re supposed to do this, we’re a big team and we have big goals, big objectives. Today we have six wins in a row but we don’t want six we want more."

There’s little time to dwell on the victory however as United travel to the London Stadium on Monday to take on West Ham, but the French international says the Reds will be ready for the challenge.
"We have to be," he said bullishly. "We train hard for this, to be ready, so we have to be ready to win the next game again."