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Man Utd News: Jose Mourinho given instructions to get the best out of Paul Pogba
JOSE MOURINHO has to tell Paul Pogba to get back to basics if the midfielder is going to succeed at Manchester United, former Ajax and Holland manager Danny Blind believes.
Pogba has so far has had a season to forget and was omitted from the starting XI for United’s last two home games.
In those two matches, which were against Arsenal and Fulham, United have looked a far greater attacking force without Pogba in the heart of their midfield.
To his credit, Pogba has shown on more than one occasion that he can be a worthy asset for the Red Devils.
And Blind - father of former United defender Daley - believes the France international can be just that if he simplifies his style of play.
“One thing Jose has to do with Pogba is instruct him to play simple," Blind told the Daily Mirror. He is the kind of player who wants to come up with complicated solutions or difficult options.
"And, in midfield, he wants to have 100,000 touches of the ball. He wants to shake off opponents by showing them his strength, a double shoulder push or whatever before he turns with the ball.
"But, in the Premier League, all of his opponents are equally strong, physically. He just can't do it. So make him pass the ball direct and simply."
Manchester United have endured a miserable season so far and are currently toiling in sixth place in the league table.
Jose has to do with Pogba is instruct him to play simple
Mourinho’s troops are a staggering 16 points behind league leaders Liverpool and Blind attributes their current woes to the Portuguese’s failure to adequately strengthen his squad after taking over from Louis van Gaal in May 2016.
“Jose can’t even get the right formation any more," he added.
"He has not bought the right players and the football is not based on a playing style with clarity for the players.
“For example, he is always changing his line of defenders.
"One match he has five at the back, then four at the back and, when I look at some matches, he is actually playing with six players in a straight line at the back when they have the ball.
“The positioning of United’s players is shocking.
"Even Southampton had their lines and positions in better shape than United last week.”
Manchester United got back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a 4-1 win over league strugglers Fulham.
Victory over Claudio Ranieri’s side was United’s first league win in over a month.
Mourinho will be hoping his men will continue their good form on Wednesday night when they travel to the Mestalla to take on Valencia in their final Champions League group game.
United have already sealed passage to the last sixteen of Europe’s elite club competition but will be looking to steal top spot from group leaders Juventus.