‘If I am Paul Pogba I am thinking “where do I lie in his plans?”‘: Rio Ferdinand questions future of Manchester United’s £89m star as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer axes World Cup winner from side for crunch clash with Everton
- Rio Ferdinand has questioned where Paul Pogba’s future lies at Manchester Utd
- The French midfielder has been omitted from the starting eleven to face Everton
- Ferdinand pondered what Pogba would think of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision
- United travel to Everton in desperate need of a result under increasing pressure
Rio Ferdinand has questioned where Paul Pogba’s future lies after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer omitted the Frenchman from his starting line-up for the crunch clash with Everton.
Manchester United visit Goodison Park in desperate need of a result with pressure mounting on the under fire Norwegian following back to back defeats to Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir.
And the United boss has opted for defensive solidity for the lunchtime game with Carlo Ancelotti’s side, selecting Scott McTominay and Fred to protect the back four, with Bruno Fernandes just ahead in a three-man midfield.
Rio Ferdinand has questioned Paul Pogba’s future after he was benched for the Everton game
The French World Cup winner will start from the bench for Saturday’s Premier League clash
It means that the £89m man has to settle for a place on the bench, with Solskjaer unconvinced by the diamond formation used to fit his array of midfielders into the same eleven.
United legend Ferdinand says that the decision to omit the 27-year-old will leave the midfielder wondering whether his future lies in Solskjaer’s plans.
‘If I am sitting there and I am Paul Pogba I am going “wow, I am not in his best team” he needs to pull out a result, he is under immense pressure today and I am on the bench, what does that say to the likes of Paul Pogba?’ he said on BT Sport.
And Ferdinand says Pogba must be left wondering what the decision means for his future
‘If I am Pogba I am thinking “where do I lie in his plans?” For Ole, I think the two in front of the back four are his insurance policy and that front four has got to go and produce.’
Meanwhile, former Chelsea star Joe Cole believes that Solskjaer has turned to the stars he trusts as his job hangs in the balance, with rumours of Mauricio Pochettino poised to take over.
‘What that says to me is Solskjaer knows this is a big game he is thinking “what players can i trust”,’ Cole said on BT Sport.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in desperate need of a result with pressure mounting on his job
‘You can’t trust Pogba to sit in that position and do a job for you. With McTominay and Fred they give you limited mistakes, they are more switched on defensively and they seem like two good characters.’
United languish in 15th place in the Premier League and will hope that they can propel themselves up the table with a win against the Toffees.
