Sports

Ibra hits out at Ferguson’s Class of 92

March 19, 2019
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) and Paul Pogba
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) and Paul Pogba

LONDON — Manchester United’s former players from the famous Class of 92 are critical of midfielder Paul Pogba because he was not loyal to former manager Alex Ferguson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said.

Pogba, who came through United’s academy, left the club for free in 2012 after Ferguson fell out with the Frenchman’s agent Mino Raiola but returned following a four-year spell at Juventus for a then-world record fee in 2016.

The 26-year-old was criticized for his poor form earlier this season by former players Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, who work as television pundits, and Ibrahimovic said it stemmed from Pogba’s decision to leave United and Ferguson for Juventus.

“With Pogba, he was with United when he was young, then he went out and he came back,” Ibrahimovic, who played with Pogba at United for 1-1/2 seasons, told the Mirror.

“In the circle of Ferguson, they don’t like that because they stayed all their life under Ferguson and they never moved from Ferguson.

“They didn’t even talk if Ferguson didn’t tell them to open their mouth. So now if they’re talking, I don’t know whether Ferguson gave them permission or not.”

Despite playing a crucial role in winning the World Cup with France last year, Pogba struggled for form at United this season under former manager Jose Mourinho, who benched the midfielder toward the end of his Old Trafford tenure.

However, Pogba turned his campaign around with nine goals and seven assists in all competitions after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed caretaker boss in December.

“I think Pogba has the potential to be the best player in the world in his position,” Ibrahimovic, now with MLS side LA Galaxy, added.

“He’s a good guy, he trains hard, he listens, he wants to become better, he wants to win, he wants to perform in every game.

“Things happening outside do not really bother him because when you are at that level, everyone will speak — positive, negative, in between.”

Sanchez wants to bring

‘joy’ to United fans

Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez is determined to succeed at the club and says he still believes in himself despite a disappointing first year at Old Trafford.

The Chile international, who is likely to be sidelined for another month with a knee injury, has endured a frustrating time since his move from Arsenal in January 2018.

He has managed just five goals in 41 appearances for the club, with only two in 23 in this current injury-troubled season.

But with the team’s fortunes transformed since caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho in December, Sanchez is looking toward a better future.

“I want to keep showing my love for football. I know what I can do. I have belief in my ability,” he told Inside United magazine.

“United is such an important club, not only in England but on a global level, and I would love to help bring a trophy to the supporters.”

“Obviously, I want to make the United fans really happy,” the 30-year-old added. “I want to score goals. I want to bring them joy. I want to win silverware.

“When we lost last year’s FA Cup final to Chelsea, I was not happy. Not happy at all. In fact, I was sad because I just wanted to make our wonderful supporters happy. I saw the fans who had come to pack out Wembley Stadium. They were all around me — all red. I liked it. Wembley was all red.” — Agencies


March 19, 2019
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