Mourinho praises Pogba for having shinpads ready v Sevilla
Jose Mourinho has praised Paul Pogba’s “professionalism” amid recent speculation regarding their relationship.
Mourinho and Pogba have reportedly had a number of disagreements over the past few weeks, with the midfielder falling in and out of the side.
He was substituted early in Premier League defeats to Tottenham and Newcastle, and dropped in the win against Huddersfield.
He was on the bench once more in the Champions League against Sevilla, but came on in the 17th minute in place of Ander Herrera.
Mourinho was eager to hail the Frenchman for being prepared to do so.
“I think he responded in a very professional way both times he was on the bench,” he said.
“He was on the bench against Huddersfield in the Premier League and he responded in a professional way. He was on the bench in Seville and he did the same.
“You saw the game against Sevilla – I think it’s always more difficult to come from the bench than to start. A player when he’s starting the game has a different kind of preparation for it and it’s easier to be on the bench and to come on even without warming up, in minute 15, or minute 20, and to get into the pace of the game is not easy.
“I think he had a very positive game for us and sometimes, details are details, but sometimes players on the bench take five minutes to be ready to play. They don’t have shinpads, they don’t have the strapping, they don’t have a shirt. He took 10 seconds to be ready to come to the pitch, which showed the professionalism that he was ready to play and help the team which he did.”
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