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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said Paul Pogba needs time to fulfil his full potential in England after the French midfielder scored twice in a 4-1 win over Fenerbahce.
Pogba, a world-record €89 million signing from Juventus, scored a penalty and a long-range effort in Thursday’s Europa League group game at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old is yet to hit the heights since returning to United after four years in Turin, but Mourinho believes such performances will help expedite the bedding-in process.
“First of all, in some of your mouths, he goes from the worst player in the Premier League to a great player in 48 hours,” Mourinho told reporters.
“I am not specifically saying it is you. I say media, especially the Einsteins. We know he is a very good player.
“We know he needs some time to show his potential. I know Italian football very well. I know teams play completely different from the Premier League.
“I am not saying we are better, but we are different: different in the intensity, the number of touches on the ball, everything is different and he needs time to adapt.
“He is a self-confident boy. He was not depressed because some people said he was a bad player. He was calm.
“It is always nice for a player to score, to score at home and especially to score such a beautiful goal.”
Pogba opened the scoring in the 31st minute, netting a penalty after Juan Mata had been bundled over by Fenerbahce centre-back Simon Kjaer.
Pogba’s France teammate Anthony Martial added another penalty three minutes later before Jesse Lingard teed up Pogba to whip a first-time shot into the top-left corner from outside the box.
Lingard got on the score-sheet with another long-range effort early in the second half before United old boy Robin van Persie reduced the arrears late on, for which he received a rousing ovation. — AFP
Online Reporter