Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba after his show of professionalism during his side’s Champions League tie in Sevilla on Wednesday.
Pogba started the game on the bench amid reports that he and his manager had had a falling out, with Scott McTominay taking the Frenchman’s place.
And 21-year-old McTominay repaid his manager’s faith as he was one of the standout performers on a night David De Gea stole all the headlines for his outrageous save in the 0-0 draw with the La Liga side.
Mourinho was speaking in his press conference before United host Chelsea on Sunday, and the Portuguese manager seemed to extinguish any fall-out rumours with Pogba, saluting the 24-year-old’s attitude.
Pogba would have been understandably frustrated at being named on the Manchester United bench, but when called upon as teammate Ander Herrera struggled with a hamstring injury, Pogba reacted in the way Mourinho would have hoped for in a time of need.
"You saw the game against Sevilla - I think it's always more difficult to come from the bench than to start.” Mourinho told reporters.
“A player when he's starting the game has a different kind of preparation for it and to come on even without warming up, in minute 15, or minute 20, and to get into the pace of the game is not easy.”
Mourinho added: "I think he had a very positive game for us and sometimes, details are details, but sometimes players on the bench take five minutes to be ready to play.
“They don't have shinpads, they don't have the strapping, they don't have a shirt.
“He took 10 seconds to be ready to come to the pitch, which showed the professionalism that he was ready to play and help the team, which he did."
