‘As soon as Paul’s agent realises this is a team sport and we work together, the better’: Solskjaer hits back at Mino Raiola after his comments about Pogba disrupted build-up to Manchester United’s Champions League defeat by Leipzig
- Mino Raiola made disruptive comments about Paul Pogba’s future at the club
- He claimed Pogba wants to leave Manchester United and will sign no new deal
- It came on the eve of their elimination from the Champions League this season
- But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insisted Raiola must understand this is a team sport
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola to realise football is about teams rather than individuals after making disruptive comments on the eve of Manchester United’s Champions League exit.
The 27-year-old capped an impressive display with a goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win at West Ham and spoke afterwards about the need to stay focused on the crunch RB Leipzig clash and derby against Manchester City.
But the build-up to Tuesday’s key Group H encounter in Germany was dominated by Pogba’s Old Trafford future after Raiola claimed his unhappy client would not sign a new deal and wanted to leave.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola to realise football is about teams
Raiola claimed on the eve of the game Pogba would not sign a new deal and wanted to leave
The France international came off the bench against Leipzig and almost inspired a comeback, but it was not enough and the 3-2 defeat means United will be playing Europa League football whether the midfielder is there or not.
But speaking after the game, Solskjaer did hit back at Raiola and claimed the club and agent should start working together.
‘The squad is fine,’ the United boss told the press conference when asked about the impact of Raiola’s comment. ‘They’re a team and they stick together.
‘As soon as Paul’s agent realises this is a team sport and we work together, the better.
But Solskjaer insists the quicker Pogba’s agent and the club work together, the better
‘That’s probably maybe the last thing I’ll say about that. I don’t want to spend energy on that.’
Asked if he spoken to Pogba about Raiola’s latest comments, Solskjaer said: ‘You know, what we speak about in the background is something else. As I said, I’m not going to talk about Paul’s agent anymore.’
Pogba’s leap and header forced United’s second late on at Leipzig, where his stoppage-time cross was almost turned into his own goal by Nordi Mukiele.
Pogba nearly inspired a comeback but United were dumped out of the Champions League
But ultimately Solskjaer’s side had left themselves with a mountain to climb after a poor start in which they did not appear fully focused.
‘You have to ask Paul if he’s happy or unhappy,’ Solskjaer told BT Sport.
‘I’m not going to speak for him. He is focused on doing his best for the team when he’s here.
‘He is working hard in training and he just needs to focus on his performances. ‘Now is not the time to discuss transfer targets and ins and outs.’
Solskjaer said only Pogba knows if he was happy at United after his side lost to RB Leipzig
