• Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates at the end of the match against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, London. Reuters
    Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates at the end of the match against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, London. Reuters
  • Tottenham's Harry Kane reacts missing a chance to score. Action Images via Reuters
    Tottenham's Harry Kane reacts missing a chance to score. Action Images via Reuters
  • Kane, left, shoots a free kick. AP Photo
    Kane, left, shoots a free kick. AP Photo
  • Kane in action with Manchester United's Paul Pogba. Reuters
    Kane in action with Manchester United's Paul Pogba. Reuters
  • Pogba eyes the ball. AP Photo
    Pogba eyes the ball. AP Photo
  • Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur reacts after a missed chance. Getty Images
    Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur reacts after a missed chance. Getty Images
  • Referee Michael Dean shows a yellow card to Manchester United's Ander Herrera. AP Photo
    Referee Michael Dean shows a yellow card to Manchester United's Ander Herrera. AP Photo
  • Manchester United's David de Gea makes a save from Kane. Action Images via Reuters
    Manchester United's David de Gea makes a save from Kane. Action Images via Reuters
  • Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring his side's goal. AP Photo
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring his side's goal. AP Photo
  • Pogba and Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur argue. Getty Images
    Pogba and Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur argue. Getty Images
  • Tottenham's Moussa Sissoko reacts after going down as Kane and Manchester United's Luke Shaw stand over him. Reuters
    Tottenham's Moussa Sissoko reacts after going down as Kane and Manchester United's Luke Shaw stand over him. Reuters
  • Kane scores a disallowed goal due to offside. Reuters
    Kane scores a disallowed goal due to offside. Reuters
  • Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld dives to stop a shot on goal by Manchester United's Anthony Martial, right. AP Photo
    Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld dives to stop a shot on goal by Manchester United's Anthony Martial, right. AP Photo
  • Pogba, center left, walks by Alli, center right. AP Photo
    Pogba, center left, walks by Alli, center right. AP Photo

Paul Pogba out of the 'shadows' since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived at Manchester United


  • English
  • Arabic

Paul Pogba has said he is "always smiling" since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United manager and the midfielder has credited the Norwegian for his return to form.

Pogba, United's most expensive player after returning to the club from Italian giants Juventus for £89 million (Dh420m) in 2016, has been integral to Solskjaer's perfect start, scoring four goals and creating four assists in five matches.

The French World Cup winner's pivotal contribution to United is in stark contrast to his role under former manager Jose Mourinho, with whom Pogba had a volatile relationship and which saw the 26-year-old often consigned to the substitute's bench.

___________

Read more:

Where does David de Gea rank in the Premier League's best ever goalkeepers?

David de Gea the hero again but no Man United keeper should be so overworked

___________

"Before the coach [Solskjaer] arrived I was in the shadows, on the bench, and I accepted that," he said after the impressive 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. "It is a pleasure to play again. Now I am always smiling."

Solskjaer, who is reported to be in the running for the United manager's job on a permanent basis, has won all six games since his arrival.

Pogba, who had been linked with a move away if Mourinho had stayed, said a lot of that can be put down to the fact Solskjaer knows the club inside out having played for them and then been on the coaching staff.

Pogba was at United in his first spell at the club in 2010 when he first encountered Solskjaer, who had moved on from playing to become reserve team coach.

"It's a pleasure to be reunited with him," said Pogba. "I knew him from the academy and the reserves, when his nickname was 'Supersub'.

"He is doing a really good job. As a player he knew the mentality of this club. He has come back to help us and it is going very well."