Paul Pogba Will be Out for a Long Term, Says Jose Mourinho

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has bracketed Paul Pogba's injury as "long term" - comparing it to those Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo are recovering from. The severity of the hamstring issue that caused the 24-year-old to limp off early in the club's Champions League return against Basel has been shrouded in mystery.

Mourinho has repeatedly claimed not to know how bad Pogba's injury is as the club continued to assess him in-house, as well as seeking specialist advice.

The Manchester United manager is still unwilling to put a timescale on the injury, but 17 days on from the France international's setback Mourinho has revealed it is a long-term issue.

"He's injured, he cannot play on Saturday and it's not an injury that I can have the hope like I have with Antonio Valencia or Phil Jones," Mourinho said of Pogba.

"I have the hope to see them in training and to have a positive answer, so long-term injuries I don't speak about them.

"So Ibra and Pogba and Rojo, these players I don't think about them."

Pogba, Rojo and Ibrahimovic are joined on the sidelines by Michael Carrick, while Jones and Valencia are to be assessed having missed the midweek Champions League match at CSKA Moscow.

Marouane Fellaini also missed out with an ankle injury that is still under assessment, while Anthony Martial went off in the 4-1 win in Russia.

"We have to train and to make decisions after training, but I hope some of the players that couldn't play in Moscow (can play)," he said.

"I hope maybe not all of them but some can recover. They were out and Saturday some will be out.

"What I am saying is that from all the injuries we have, I hope we can have some players available Saturday."

Source - Skysports

Comments

Roma Midfielder Signs New Deal with Italian Club

Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has signed a new four-year contract with the Serie A club. The 29-year-old Belgium international had been linked with Manchester United in Italian media, while Chelsea were also reported to be interested. This was coupled by suggestions that Nainggolan was growing impatient with the numerous delays in receiving a contract proposal from the capital club. However, the 29-year-old has put any doubts about his future to bed by extending his contract until 2021, in a deal that will see him earn €4.5 million per season, including bonuses, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I think I have demonstrated that this is what I always wanted," Nainggolan said. "I'm very happy that the club and I can continue our adventure and move forward together." Nainggolan has played 161 times for Roma since joining from Cagliari in 2014. Nainggolan becomes the third senior central midfielder to extend their contract at Roma th...

Alexis Sanchez is just what Manchester United Need, Says Fortmer Tottenham Manager

The signing of a proven world-class forward such as Alexis Sanchez is just what Manchester United need to compete for the biggest prizes, former Tottenham manager Gerry Francis has said. Sanchez, 29, joined United on a four-and-a-half-year contract from Arsenal on Monday, 22 January, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving in the opposite direction in a straight-swap deal. "Sanchez is a real goal-scorer, he's talented and he's aggressive around the box and he makes things happen, he can pull teams through," he told Sky Sports.Francis described the Chilean forward as a match-winner who will aid United in their quest to win silverware by adding some much-needed potency to their attack. "It's [about] the present, you're looking to win trophies and looking to win competitions and, sometimes, you need to buy and have the finished article and Sanchez is certainly that. "It just makes them as a squad that much stronger. Certainly, a much bigger goal-threat with Sa...

‘Chelsea Needs more Bodies in Midfield' - Frank Lampard Advises Antonio Conte to Make Key Tactical Change against Roma

Frank Lampard has told Antonio Conte to revert to the gameplan which saw Chelsea overcome Atletico Madrid when they face Roma in the Champions League tonight. The Premier League champions will hope to solidify their position in Group C when they meet the same opposition who were unlucky to be held to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago. Conte has largely stuck with the 3-4-3 formation which brought his side so much success last season but Lampard believes it is imperative he packs the midfield against the Serie A side, in much the same way he did against Atletico last month. On that night Cesc Fabregas, Timeoue Bakayoko and N’Golo Kante dominated the middle of the park, contributing to a 2-1 victory that represented Chelsea’s most complete performance of the season so far. Kante’s likely return from a three-week injury-enforced absence will come as a welcome boost to his manager who was forced to deploy David Luiz in midfield against Roma in the reve...

Plauseorminus

Search This Blog