Manchester United vs RB Leipzig: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explains decision to drop Paul Pogba

Pogba named among substitutes at Red Bull Arena amid Raiola quit comments

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Tuesday 08 December 2020 20:10 GMT
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Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba (Getty Images)

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that the decision to leave Paul Pogba out of the starting line-up for Manchester United's Champions League decider against RB Leipzig was purely tactical.

Pogba was named among the substitutes at the Red Bull Arena following comments by his agent Mino Raiola, who said that the midfielder is "unhappy" at Old Trafford and will not sign a new contract.

Raiola revealed that Pogba feels can "no longer express himself like he wants to" and that he desires to leave as soon as possible in an interview with Tuttosport.

Pogba played 90 minutes and scored to spark a United comeback in Saturday’s 3-1 win at West Ham.

But Solskjaer selected Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic to play as a central midfield pairing ahead of Pogba and said that Raiola's comments had no bearing on the decision.

Read more: RB Leipzig vs Manchester United LIVE: Team news and line-ups ahead of Champions League fixture tonight

"My decision tonight is obviously tactical," he said. "We made a team decision way before this game. We decided on Scott and Nemanja in midfield before West Ham. I always think back to the best XI for the team selection.

Solskjaer denied that the storm generated by Raiola's remarks had affected United's preparations.

"You prepare for every single game as if it's your last one. This is the one. We've got City on Saturday but we're focused on this one and the preparation has been good."

United only require a point to qualify from Group H and reach the Champions League knock-out stages but defeat will see Solskjaer’s side finish third and drop into the Europa League.

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