Paul Pogba 'cannot be happy' with his lack of Manchester United playing time, says France manager Didier Deschamps

Deschamps believes Pogba 'must not appreciate' his recent lack of minutes under Jose Mourinho

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Monday 19 March 2018 23:18 GMT
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Paul Pogba is currently on international duty with France
Paul Pogba is currently on international duty with France (Getty)

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Didier Deschamps, the France manager, believes Paul Pogba “cannot be happy” with his current situation at Manchester United.

Pogba, who is part of Deschamps’ France squad for upcoming friendlies against Colombia and Russia, has lost his status as an automatic starter under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford in recent weeks.

The 25-year-old midfielder was left out of United’s starting line-up to face Huddersfield Town and Sevilla last month despite being fully fit, with academy graduate Scott McTominay preferred.

Pogba then only appeared as a substitute in last week’s return leg defeat to Sevilla and went unused in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Brighton and Hove Albion, despite having recovered from a slight injury.

Deschamps believes Pogba’s recent lack of playing time at club level is sure to have affected him.

“This is a situation that he must not appreciate because of everything he would have been able to offer,” he told L’Equipe.

“There must be numerous reasons. He cannot be happy with what he is going through with his club.”

Deschamps added: “It’s not specific to Paul. It can happen elsewhere that a player is a bit down or is going through a particular situation with his club.

“That could be Paul now, or others at other times, and I will do as I always do and talk to that player to understand better, because I don’t have all the information.”

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