Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United was the main headline approaching Juventus’ 1-0 win at Old Trafford on October 23rd. Tonight’s return leg at Juve in the UEFA Champions League group stage fixture features a similar storyline- Paul Pogba making his return to Italy, where he accomplished so much.
Asked if tonight will be an emotional occasion for the Frenchman, United boss Jose Mourinho said: “I imagine yes, in the same way Cristiano was professional – he did his job, fought for his team and gave everything he had to give.”
“I can imagine with Paul it’s going to be the same – a little bit of emotion now, I think even at the beginning of the match, yes for sure. But then, it’s football and he’s wearing a United shirt with the United crest and he has to fight for it.”
Despite the lack of blockbuster success, and the fact that Juve are still a peg or two above the Red Devils right now in overall team strength, the man who returned to United on a then record breaking transfer fee of £89 million says he has no regrets at all about choosing to #Pogback
“Choosing to come back to Man United was my choice. Juventus were playing Champions League and Manchester were playing Europa League. I knew first of all I wouldn’t play Champions League and I was very happy,” said Pogba.
“I made my choice and don’t regret it at all. I know Manchester the last few years are not being at the top but I came back just to help the team and try to come back at the top so we are on the way…Do I look sad? I’m happy.”
“Like I said again, I’m happy to wear the shirt, I’m really happy to come back to Man United wearing this shirt playing for this team, this big club.”
Pogba, during a very informative prematch press conference session, maintained that Mourinho’s stripping of his vice-captaincy didn’t have an adverse impact on him or his play.
“For me, it didn’t affect me. I’m still playing and I’m really happy to play,” the Frenchman said.
“The manager is the one who chooses who is captain. Me, I was the second one after Valencia. Then if he takes the armband from me it doesn’t change anything. I just want to play, perform, that’s my job – to give my best for my team and for everybody, for the fans, for the club. It didn’t really touch me, didn’t affect me. Nothing changed really.”
Pogba says he has a good relationship with his manager: “It is manager-coach, player-manager. Like everybody [else] I will say.”
“If I ask you this question how is the manager with other players he [Mourinho] will say he is the manager and they the player. I do what he tells me to do. He’s the boss, he’s the manager and I listen and I enjoy it – I just listen and I do it with happiness.”
Mourinho gave a similar response on that topic: “There is what the press says and another is what Paul says and another is what I say,” he said. “The press say we have a terrible relationship but some months ago Paul said we have a typical coach and player relationship – I think we have a good relationship between a coach and a football player.”
United vs Juventus FYIs
MUFC Starting XI Prediction go to this link
Injury report for both teams: go to this link
Kickoff/TV: Wednesday November 7, 8pm BST, 3PM EST, BT Sport/TNT
Odds via Odds Checker: United 11/2, Draw 16/5, Juventus 8/13
Prediction: Juventus 2, United 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.