MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho has praised Paul Pogba for his performance against Sevilla after leaving the midfielder out of his starting line-up.
After being left out of the starting XI by Mourinho, Pogba was called into action early in the first half when Ander Herrera was forced off with an injury.

And alongside Nemanja Matic and youngster Scott McTominay, the 24-year-old was under the cosh for much of the game as Sevilla searched for a first-leg advantage.

But a stunning reflex save by David de Gea in the first half ensured United kept an important clean sheet away from home.

Unsurprisingly Mourinho was asked about Pogba’s display after the match and though the United boss was happy with his £90million man, he was more effusive about McTominay’s performance.
“Pre-match I had 3 of 4 questions about Paul and he wasn’t even playing,” he said.

“I understand the question but if I was you I would ask about McTominay and he looked like a man with dozens of matches in CL.

“I think Paul made a big effort to try to give the team what I asked of him.

“Paul replaced Ander, he tried to bring to the game the same kind of qualities.
“He lost a couple of possessions but he also gave us stability because we had a good percentage of possession for the way we played.

“I am also happy with Matic, so I think the three midfield players had a good game and Paul was part of it.”

It was McTominay who had United’s only shot on target in the first half with a left-foot effort which was parried away by Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico.

But United were once again indebted to De Gea for keeping them in the match when Sevilla threatened to break the deadlock.

De Gea made eight saves which was the most by a United keeper in a Champions League game since Edwin van der Sar against Barcelona in May 2011.

With Chelsea to come at the weekend, the loss of Herrera to injury will be a concern to Mourinho and the Portuguese suggested the 28-year-old was not fully fit.

He said: “He had a small injury that stopped him for the last couple of matches.

“The medical department gave him 100 per cent ready for last Saturday. We didn’t play him to give more work and more protection but it looks like he was not fully fit.

“The medical department gave him fully fit. He trained Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

“He looked fit, the way he was playing during the time on the pitch he showed that intensity that is only possible when you feel fully fit.”

Real Madrid forced to rush Mohamed Salah transfer because of one reason

That is according to Spanish outlet El Gol Digital, who claim that Bayern Munich have now entered the race for Salah’s signature.

The Egyptian has been in sensational form for Liverpool since moving from Roma for £34million in the summer.

The 25-year-old has already racked up 30 goals this term and has attracted interest from clubs all across Europe.

Real Madrid are thought to be planning a big summer shake-up after a disappointing season and Salah is high on their priority list.
El Gol Digital say that if Los Blancos cannot sign Chelsea’s Eden Hazard then they will make a move for the Liverpool attacker.

But Bayern look set to lose Arjen Robben as his contract expires in June. And the Bundesliga outfit are considering making Salah his replacement if he will move to Germany.

Robben, 34, apparently has offers for one final big payday in either Qatar or China.
If a bidding war between the two heavyweights ensues then Liverpool could pocket more than the £142million they sold Philippe Coutinho for last month.
Jurgen Klopp is expected to dip back into the market at the end of the season to find the Brazilian’s replacement.

But he will not want to have to replace Salah also.

HUGE Paul Pogba claim made about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

FORMER Manchester United star John Giles has told Paul Pogba he needs to stop thinking he is on the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pogba has faced heavy scrutiny in the past month with reports suggesting there is some unrest between the player and Jose Mourinho.

He was dropped for the third time in four games for last night’s Champions League first-leg tie against Sevilla with Scott McTominay favoured by Mourinho.

The France international did enter the action earlier than expected to replace an injured Ander Herrera.

But he was unable to affect the result as United had to settle for a 0-0 draw heading into the second leg in three weeks’ time.

Having moved back to Old Trafford for a club-record fee worth £89million back in 2016, Pogba has struggled to live up his price-tag.

And Giles believes this is the first time Pogba is coming to the realisation that he isn’t the world-class player he thought he was.

“It’s always an abrupt slap in the face for a young prodigy who has been told from an early age that he is the greatest thing since sliced bread when he comes up against the brutal demands of football,” Giles wrote in the Irish Independent.

“Paul Pogba is facing up to harsh reality that he is not the greatest player in the world and it may well be the first time such a notion has ever crossed his mind.
“I firmly believe that up until a few weeks ago, Pogba genuinely thought he was up there with Messi and Ronaldo or was as Mourinho put it, the “most complete” midfielder in the world.

“I don’t believe that Mourinho ever thought that but if he did, if he misjudged Pogba’s ability to run a football match from the pivotal slot in midfield, he doesn’t believe it any more.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Danny Welbeck is a shadow of the player he once was

HE HAS lost confidence, no longer has faith in his own body and one thing is for sure, he is no Harry Kane.

Nevertheless, Arsene Wenger retains his faith in “useful” Danny Welbeck and wants to extend his contract beyond the end of next season at the earliest opportunity.

Moreover, he wants the Arsenal striker to use close friend and team-mate Jack Wilshere as his inspiration as he continues his rehabilitation from a series of injuries problems right back to the top of his game.

Three years ago, Welbeck was the man Roy Hodgson was pinning his Euro 2016 hopes on. After his destructive double in Berne in September 2014 got England off to an incredible start, the Arsenal player scored his sixth goal in five qualifiers against Lithuania the following March.

It was the same game in which Kane finally made his senior debut and since then Welbeck has seen just 91 more minutes of action for his country. A knee operation ruled him out for 10 months and after just four months back he was facing another nine months on the sidelines.

Even then, a hip injury which gave way to a groin strain held him back at the start of this campaign and it is only tonight against lowly Ostersands that he gets a chance to press his claims, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cup-tied and Alexandre Lacazette injured.
But then Wenger makes no bones about it: Welbeck is not the player he once was.

“Yes, I would not disagree with you on that,” said Wenger. “There was a time when I remember he played for England in Switzerland and he looked absolutely marvellous. He was already here and he is a player we all want and would like to come back.

“I see signs of him now in training where he is like that period. It’s difficult to imagine a guy who has basically been one and a half years out. 25 years of age, that’s absolutely traumatic.

“He had knee problems on both sides. When you are a football player it is very difficult to accept. Do you lose faith in your body? Yeah, of course.

“Even with a muscular injury you lose it quickly. One of the advantages of being young is that you feel ‘undestroyable’.

MORE FOOTBALL NEWS AND GOSSIP…..

Real Madrid want Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 25, to delay agreeing a new contract until April, when they plan to choose between signing him or Manchester United’s Spain international David de Gea, 27. (Telegraph)

Belgium international Courtois has said his agent will listen to any offer from Real Madrid. (Mirror)

Paul Pogba’s agent has offered the Manchester United midfielder to some of Europe’s top clubs. The 24-year-old Frenchman was a substitute for United’s Champions League draw with Sevilla on Wednesday. (Sports Illustrated)

England central defender Harry Maguire, 24, is ready to pledge his future toLeicester, despite being linked with Manchester City. (Sun)

West Bromwich Albion are closely monitoring the progress of Ostersundmanager Graham Potter. The 42-year-old Englishman says he plans to manage in the Premier League in the future. (Mail)

Ligue 1 side Nantes say they will not stand in manager Claudio Ranieri’s way if he is approached about the vacant Italy job. (L’Equipe – in French)

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, 30, is wanted by four French clubs including Lyon and Paris St-Germain – and the France international would not be averse to a move. (AS)

Barcelona are working on a deal to sign 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo from Gremio for about 30m euros (£26.4m). (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish)

Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez, 21, says he is not interested in a move to Real Madrid this summer. The Colombian joined Spurs from Ajax in August. (Mirror)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants England striker Danny Welbeck, 27, to sign a new contract. (Mail)

Manchester United are keen on Dinamo Zagreb’s 19-year-old Croatian midfielder Nikola Moro, who has been described as the ‘new Luka Modric’. (Talksport)

Atletico Madrid’s 24-year-old Belgian forward Yannick Carrasco is close to joining Chinese club Dalian Yifang for about 30m euros (£26.4m). (El Pais – in Spanish)

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says “in my line of work you always have your bags packed” – but again insisted he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge. (Express)

Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is in danger of losing out on a place in England’s World Cup squad. (Times – subscription required)

Arsenal’s Colombian back-up goalkeeper David Ospina, 29, will keep his place for Sunday’s EFL Cup final against Manchester City. (Guardian)

Racing Club defender Leonardo Sigali has only played 270 minutes for his new side since signing from Dinamo Zagreb in January – but he has already got a new haircut sporting the club’s crest. (Four Four Two)

Former Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham winger David Ginola has become a father again aged 51, almost two years after he had a heart attack during a charity football match. (Birmingham Mail)