Wayne Rooney speaks out on Paul Pogba’s relationship with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho

The France international admitted he was guilty of a lack of focus during his side’s shock defeat at Brighton last weekend

Wayne Rooney has baked Paul Pogba to fulfil his potential at Manchester United but claims he cannot use his relationship with Jose Mourinho as an excuse for his sub-standard performances. Wayne Rooney has backed Paul Pogba to succeed at Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
The France international admitted he was guilty of a lack of focus during his side’s shock defeat at Brighton last weekend and claimed he would be fined were he to reveal all about his relationship with Mourinho following United’s opening weekend win over Leicester City.
Mourinho invited Untied’s stand-in captain to clarify his recent comments ahead of Monday’s clash wit Tottenham at Old Trafford, but Rooney, who played alongside Pogba during his two spells at the club, insists his former teammate must concentrate solely on his performances on the pitch.

Paul Pogba admitted he performed poorly against Brighton (Picture: Getty)

Paul Pogba on Brighton defeat ‘My attitude was not right. It has to be a big lesson for us.

They had more hunger than us. I put myself first, that my attitude wasn’t right enough. We made mistakes we shouldn’t make.

"We tried to push and push, we kept trying, but it was a bit too late.’ ‘He is a fantastic player but he has to do it for himself," he told CNN World Sport.

"If they’re going to win the title, he’ll be the main player in terms of them doing that.

"You hear a lot of people saying Jose Mourinho needs to get the best out of him but he needs to do it for himself and prove he’s at that level to help Man United."