Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has recently revealed that team-mate and good friend Paul Pogba is happy playing at Old Trafford under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The France international allegedly had a really bad relationship with the previous manager Jose Mourinho. But, even with the use of a dutching calculator you can see that the midfielder has contributed six goals and five assists since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival.
Lukaku – who currently finds himself in and out of the starting lineup – has also claimed that the first-team squad are now ‘back to their level’.
The Belgian told Canal Football Club:
“At training we are constantly saying Paul looks so happy and then he laughs. Everyone is back to their level, Paul, Marcus [Rashford], me when I get playing time I try and make as big an impact as possible, Anthony [Martial], everyone.
“This competitive spirit is coming back out of each player, it has already started in training when we play small-sided matches, six versus six, eight versus eight, you can see it the players want to prove themselves to the manager.
“They want to take their opportunity and during matches we know that each player knows that the most important thing is the team and we know that it is that attitude that will take us to the top.”
Solskjaer has guided United to nine wins and a draw from 10 matches in all competitions.
Recent Solskjaer had this to say about Paul Pogba becoming club captain again:
“He’s a character, he influences people, he cares and he really wants to be successful,” United’s caretaker manager said. “I know him from before [Pogba’s first spell at the club when Solskjær was on the coaching staff] and when he’s enjoying himself he brings so many good things with him.
“He knows he can’t do it by himself, he knows it’s a team game but you can see the personality, you can see what winning the World Cup meant to him, so for me, yes, he’s captain material.”
Pogba’s social media profile has proved a problem but Solskjær is comfortable with modern trends, even if he does not always understand them. “It’s part of the era we live in,” he said. “That’s society now, it’s what kids do and what they are used to. I’m not but they are. It’s all positive, it’s all good messages and I don’t have any problem with it, because that’s Paul and that’s Jesse [Lingard]. As a club we have certain rules but mostly it’s just common sense.”
